What You Didn't Know About Vitamin D

This vitamin protects the heart. It controls the release of stress hormones that lead to
high blood pressure and inflammation. It can decrease the risk of colon cancer by half. A
study of post-menopausal women showed a 77 percent lower risk of all cancers among
those who took 1,000 mg of D plus calcium.

The role of vitamin D in bone health has been proven for some time, making the vitamin an
important factor in preventing osteoporosis.

According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D-fortified orange juice has joined
the short list of foods and beverages that contain vitamin D. This is good news for people
who don't drink much milk.

Vitamin D helps to prevent falls in older adults. While exercise is important in fall
prevention, vitamin D is more important.

Vitamin D is best known as essential for calcium uptake and the prevention of disease in
childhood. Since it was added to milk, rickets has largely disappeared.

Vitamin D could be a factor in diabetes prevention.

Vitamin D is needed by the immune system. A deficiency can also cause poor absorption of
bone minerals, which can contribute to cancer, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and type 1
diabetes.

A study published in the Journal of Public Health concludes that taking vitamin D pills could
substantially reduce the risk for breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancer. The
University of California, San Diego researchers contrasted the nickel-a-day cost of a
vitamin D supplement with "the high human and economic costs of treating cancer
attributable to insufficiency of vitamin D."

Other evidence shows that vitamin D is as important as calcium for building bone and
preventing osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is found in sunlight, eggs, fish, liver, fortified milk, and some calcium
supplements.

A study in the Archives of Neurology shows that almost 70 percent of patients with early
Parkinson's disease had very low levels of vitamin D. Fatty fish contain vitamin D as do
fortified foods such as milk.

It's true that vitamin D is an important nutrient. New studies suggest that it can even
reduce the risk of diabetes and various types of cancer.

Comments

Banana Corn Fritters

Banana Corn Fritters 3/4 cup Arrowhead Mills Organic Corn Meal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon Swanson Organic Cinnamon 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Swanson Organic Cayenne Pepper 1 1/4 cups bananas, roughly mashed (about 3 medium bananas) 1 large egg 2 tablespoons skim milk 2 tablespoons Swanson Organic Coconut Oil , divided Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Whisk corn meal, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and cayenne in a medium bowl. Mix banana, egg and milk in a separate bowl. Add the cornmeal mixture to the banana mixture and stir until just blended. Heat one tablespoon coconut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Using 2 tablespoons of batter for each, space 5 fritters evenly in the pan. Cook until golden brown, 30 seconds to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cook a second batch with the remaining oil and batter, adjusting heat to prevent b

THE TRUTH ABOUT MENOPAUSE, WEIGHT GAIN AND "THE POOCH"

By Colleen McCleery, MD, OB/GYN—Exuberan® by Virtua Menopause is a mixed bag of little surprises. While most women look forward to saying goodbye to tampons and pads, far fewer are excited to now experience hot flashes and night sweats. And it’s probably fair to say that weight gain is the least popular and often least expected “side effect” of this hormonal shift. Considering many women struggle with their weight on a good day, it’s not surprising that this is the number one complaint from patients who are going through this transition. The biology of menopause During the late 40s to mid-50s, a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases and no longer performs its job to regulate the ovaries. During this increase in FSH, other hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decrease. A decrease in testosterone can lead to weight gain and decreased energy. And, not surprisingly, estrogen loss has far-reaching effects beyond hot flashes. It contribut

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr

Daily Health News Blog

Search This Blog