Daily Health News Blog

Discover the Value of Vitamin D By Sara Lovelady The US Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recently tripled the recommended daily vitamin D intake to 600 IU for people between 1 and 7 If there was ever such a thing as a “popular” vitamin, then vitamin D surely qualifies. After a flurry of scientific studies showed a link between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of several chronic diseases, it captured widespread interest. Here are the basics to know about this compelling nutrient. What does D do in the body? Vitamin D helps maintain blood levels of calcium, so it increases bone strength. It also works with calcium to prevent falls in seniors. But vitamin D is more than just calcium’s sidekick. Intervention studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin D may provide modest benefits in helping you kick the winter blues and tamp down high blood pressure—and, if you have diabetes—balancing blood sugar. Population studie...