There are some interesting new studies that have opened new questions about vitamin D and the role it has on your immune system. One study from Sweden gives the opinion that a lack of vitamin D is the reason that people get the flu more often in the wintertime as opposed to the summertime (there is less sunlight and thus you produce far less vitamin D)! Although there are still questions that need to be answered, one thing seems to be clear…almost 97% of American are low in vitamin D3 in the wintertime.
If you are one of the people (and there are a lot of you!) who believes everything the government says then my advice to you is DON’T supplement with vitamin D …hopefully that will work out for you. (You may also want to go out and fill you body up with drugs and vaccines as the government says those things are essential for good health!?!?)
If you are one of the people who questions the ‘wisdom’ of the government (or who sees all the collusion and hypocrisy that goes on) then you would know that supplementing with vitamin D3 is safe, cheap and effective. Getting your vitamin D3 levels back up to normal levels not only helps keep your bones healthy, it keeps your immune system in good shape and can even help with your skin and your mental health!
The amount of vitamin D to supplement remains a topic of debate amongst researchers. The government raised the level of recommendation from 280IU’s to 450IU’s last year, but those levels are grossly inadequate. (Pretty much everyone agrees there – except for the government panel who made that recommendation!) Most doctors and scientists recommend 2000-5000IU’s of vitamin D3 per day. From my experience 5000IU’s is the minimal dosage to bring low blood levels of vitamin D up to normal levels. I commonly recommend 5000-10000IU’s for my adult patients, or they can get 15-30 minutes of direct sunlight on 50% of their body. Beach vacation anyone?