General Health
New evidence shows that people with higher levels of vitamin D experience a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, have higher activity in the body’s immune system against infectious diseases like flu and also have better balanced moods and energy levels. Vitamin D also helps build healthy bones, hearts, nerves, skin and teeth, and it supports the health of the thyroid gland, maintaining healthy weight and a balanced metabolism.
Whilst moderate sunlight exposure is the best source of vitamin D, many people incorrectly think that a small amount of sunshine exposure daily is sufficient to meet their vitamin D needs. However, after your skin is exposed to sunlight, it takes about 48 hours to convert it into vitamin D. During that time, the sunlight-initiated precursors to vitamin D can be washed off with soap and water. So if you scrub your skin with soap in the shower, your body will not convert most of your skin’s sun exposure to vitamin D.
This leaves us in a quandary. Whilst vitamin D can be found in many foods, like oily fish, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, mushrooms and many other sources, it is in fairly low amounts and not that easily absorbed. This is where a good vitamin D supplement comes in!
Many nutritional experts agree that the current RDA of 5µg (200iu) is insufficient and should be more like 25µg. However, we do think this may be a little excessive, but regularly recommend 10µg on a daily basis for better health!
Pregnancy
A team at University College London Institute of Child Health say that there is a very “strong case” for a daily dose of vitamin D in pregnancy to go alongside the 400µg of Folic Acid currently recommended.
The Department of Health advises pregnant women to ensure they receive a certain level of vitamin D – 10µg per day. The researchers say this in effect endorses the use of supplements, because diet and the sun provide too little. Women should be informed about the importance of having adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding.
It is worth noting here that pregnant women on low incomes are entitled to a range of nutrients – including vitamin D – as part of the Healthy Start Scheme.
Dr Elina Hypponen, co-author of the paper, said “The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women in Britain is unacceptably high, especially during winter and spring”. The paper also said that the UK was the only one of 31 countries examined which did not recommend that women of reproductive age took a vitamin D supplement, and that it also failed to endorse a daily supplement for expectant mothers. “We believe that the routine provision of a daily supplement throughout pregnancy would significantly decrease the number of mothers who are clearly vitamin D deficient, reducing related serious risks to their babies.”
If pregnant, thinking of becoming so, or breast feeding we would recommend good all-round nutrition in the guise of our Pregnancy Formula!
“Vitamin D Supplementation in the UK might be beneficial for the whole population.”, Mr Patrick O’Brien, RCOG.
Sources:
Care2.com: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vitamin-d-lined-to-diabetes-cancer-depression-and-more.html
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/8645104.stm
***NEWSFLASH***
Careful eating and regular exercise can stave off diabetes! Well, we all knew that didn’t we? But, did you know it could be by as much as 58%?
In a recent large study (3,000 people), the US-based Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group have shown that a diet aimed at achieving a 7% weight loss, combined with half-an-hour of exercise five days a week, reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%.
According to the Lancet the dieters reaped the most benefit from the study, even compared to the group on the diabetes drug ‘Metaformin’, which has been used to treat diabetics since the 1950′s.
‘There seems to be no short cut, and a persistent and prolonged intensive lifestyle intervention seems to be the most effective answer’ said Dr Misra of the Lancet.
Type 2 diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40; however increasing numbers of children – some as young s seven – are now being diagnosed.
So, this exercise lark, I can’t do that five days a week! Well you’ll be happy to know it doesn’t have to be full-on treadmill stuff, just enough to make you slightly breathless, and increase your heart rate. Go for a walk, play with the kids (that’ll help them too!), take the stairs, just do something. It all helps!
There are also supplements that can help control blood sugar levels, chromium being the best and most widely available.
Don’t sit there worrying about diabetes, get up and move so you don’t have to!
Sources:
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/8330077.stm
As you may have seen today, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a TV advert for Actimel was misleading and could not be scientifically supported by evidence.
Now, I’ve seen these adverts on TV for a while, and whilst I’ve winced because Danone (who produce Actimel) are in my opinion making medical claims (which you’re not allowed to do, if it’s not a medicine!), I find it quite refreshing that at last someone is recognising the fantastic health benefits of these often forgotten bacteria.
They play important roles in the digestion of our food, to allow us to absorb the nutrients. They help fight infection and support the immune system and most importantly they help police the intestine from unwanted nasty bacteria and other unwanteds, such as yeast, which then can turn into thrush or candidiasis.
There has been much discussion about whether or not you can get the full benefits of these marvellous bacteria when taken in yoghurt form, but we know for sure that taking a capsule or tablet can deliver them directly to where they’re needed to give your body that great natural protection.
Bio Nutrition have two great probiotics that we would recommend to everyone. Acidophilus with Oatbran and Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Both being free from, dairy, lactose, sugar and gluten, making them suitable for many allergy sufferers!
So make sure you keep your natural defences in tiptop condition with Bio Nutrition.
Sources:
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/8286646.stm
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/8305918.stm
For many years now nutritionists from across the world have been telling us to avoid coffee, because caffeine is an unnecessary stimulant. Well, apparently they might have only been half right!
In a recent study, Florida-based research scientists have suggested that about 500mg of caffeine daily could reverse the memory problems seen in Alzheimer’s.
“The results are particularly exciting in that a reversal of pre-existing memory impairment is more difficult to achieve” said Dr Gary Arendash, University of South Florida, “it may be possible that caffeine could also be a viable ‘treatment’ for established Alzheimer’s disease and not just a protective strategy.”
The use of caffeine showed a nearly 50% reduction in levels of the beta amyloid protein, which forms the destructive clumps in the brains of dementia patients. There was also a suggestion that caffeine suppresses inflammatory changes in the brain which produce an over-abundance of this protein.
Caffeine is a safe drug for most people, with only people with high blood pressure and pregnant women having to limit their intake. 500mg is easily achievable for most people.
Coffee is by far the most common way for people to get caffeine into their systems, but there are other sources. One of the most common alternatives is Guaraná.
Guaraná is a creeping shrub, native to Venezuela and northern Brazil. Guaraná seeds are rich in caffeine containing up to 3 times the amount found in coffee. The seeds are also rich in tannins and the xanthine alkaloids, theophylline and theobromine. Guaraná has been traditionally used as a stimulant and to increase mental alertness, fighting fatigue and increasing stamina and physical endurance. Along with now, it would seem, playing a protective and treating role in mental health.
All-in-all, a much better way to get your caffeine intake up with many other added benefits.
Sources:
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8132122.stm
About.com – Alternative Medicine: http://altmedicine.about.com/
Health Notes: http://www.healthnotes.info/uk_db/healthnotes.cfm?ContentID=2103002
