Vitamin D Supplements, Cure, Curse, or Worthless?
I really hope I don’t live to regret this. Last month I had a general physical, my first one in about 5 years. I’m usually leery about going to the doctor when I’m feeling well, because they just have to find something wrong with you, don’t they? And then you get involved with prescriptions and procedures that make you feel worse than when you started. At least that’s what I suspect. But, as a woman of a certain age, I felt it was in my family’s best interest that I get checked out.
So the only thing the doc managed to come up with is that my Vitamin D is low, quite low. In case you haven’t been to the doctor recently, the newest thing they’re testing for is your Vitamin D level. They’re blaming a whole slew of ailments on Vitamin D deficiency including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and low levels of good cholesterol. If you have high levels of Vitamin D in your blood, your rate of illness and death is low. Bad news for me.
But is taking Vitamin D supplements the answer as suggested by most doctors? I’m not so sure. Few clinical trials have shown a strong correlation between Vitamin D supplements and curing these risks. As I reported last year, scientists have found that Vitamin D supplements can cause problems for those with autoimmune problems (I have vitiligo which is a minor autoimmune disease). It would be nice if I could up my intake of a particular food to improve my Vitamin D levels, but there really aren’t any that are potent enough to accomplish what I need.
What I really need is more time in the sun, to build up my levels the old fashioned way. But until sun can be found in these parts, I guess I’ll try the supplements and hope for the best. What would you do?
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4 Responses to “Vitamin D Supplements, Cure, Curse, or Worthless?”
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I’d eat more cheese, then I’d ask myself if longevity is my goal or is livng well my goal. At this time I would realize that cheese really goes well with wine. After a little wine and a bit more cheese I’d realize summer would come soon enough and I should spend more time in the sun. No one eats sun screen after all. Should I open another bottle of wine now that I’ve switch to a different cheese? What goes with brie? I know, I ‘ll start gardening. That will get me more time in the sun and after all there must be some fresh vegetable has Vitamin D. I’m feeling a bit tired now. Maybe I’l just take some vitamin D pills cause the wine and cheese are gone.
I like your train of thought. Now if only the sunshine would show up with your wine and cheese.
Hmmmmmmmm….I wonder how my vitamin “D” is. Maybe this is the one place I can beat you…
Dream on, my dear, dream on…