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
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 about the last year, Probiotics, or so called ‘Friendly Bacteria’ have been the subject of many discussions. How do the yoghurt type drinks work with so much sugar in them? How can the even billions of bacteria products, have any effect on the already trillions of bacteria present in the guts? and so on!
They Really Do Work!
Well, dieticians at Imperial College London, have shown that they do work (still not sure about the amount of sugar in some of the drinks!). Dr Jeremy Nicholson says “We have established that introducing ‘friendly’ bacteria can change the dynamics of the whole population of microbes in the gut”. The screening of blood, urine, faeces and livers, revealed that levels of several key chemicals related to important processes in the body were altered in those who were probiotic-treated. One of the ways the probiotics helped was in the breakdown of bile acids in the gut, therefore allowing more fat to pass undigested through the body, rather than being absorbed. This may well have a significant effect on cholesterol and body weight.
A spokeswomen for the British Dietetic Association said that there were too few studies of probiotics to actually show real benefits, but our understanding of how they work is changing and this should benefit everyone.
Probiotic Performance!
Australian research has found that Probiotic supplements can reduce the number and length of infections suffered by athletes. Strenuous training can affect the immune system and make athletes both amateur and professional vulnerable to coughs and colds.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine study found that taking probiotics more than halved the number of days the athletes had symptoms. Although it is not entirely known why, it is becoming increasingly evident that the ‘friendly bacteria’ have an effect on the immune system.
A small study conducted at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, focused on 20 top-level endurance runners during their intensive winter training programme. Over the four months, all 20 received 2 two month long course of pills – the first containing Lactobacillus, and the second containing no active ingredients. All the athletes then recorded any days they were suffering from symptoms such as coughs and runny noses. The total toll of illness across the group was then recorded, finding a total of 72 days of illness when the dummy pills were taken, as opposed to 30 days when the probiotics were being taken. Suggesting that the probiotics might somehow help the body protect itself.
Critical Protection!
A recent Swedish study concluded that probiotics may inhibit the colonisation of airways by dangerous bugs, performing just as well as normal antiseptics, in the prevention of pneumonia, and being more natural could also pose fewer side-effects. Although they did admit that much larger studies are required.
So there we are, three very good reasons to consider the use of probiotic products like Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Acidophilus with Oatbran.
Source: Various articles BBC News
