Dancing with D

• Photo by tibchris
  
  Come on, admit it—it has been awhile. The weather has been cloudy and cold. You have been tied to your desk. Can you even remember the last time you bared yourself to him? The last time you felt his warmth on your face, your arms? When you do see him you hide beneath a hat and sunglasses, turning your back to him as you slather on lotion. They warned you about him. Still, he has something you need, that ol’ Mr. Sunshine, and you must either allow him the occasional dance or find a new partner.
  
  What he has is “D”, and if you aren’t dancing with D you might be dancing with d-eficiency. Vitamin D deficiency may easily be overlooked. Some of the early warning signs include:

• low immunity to colds and flu
• SAD syndrome
• periodontal disease
• asthma
• high blood pressure
• hair loss
• digestive problems
• weight gain
• sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness
• diabetes
• PMS
• bone pain and muscle weakness

Whew, such a list! Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) is not only necessary for the body’s use of calcium and phosphorous but is also thought to assist with cell division. Most of us have been doing a Waltz with D; we need to step it up to a Fox Trot!


Choose the Steps that Suit Your Style:

The Sunshine Samba

You will need 10-15 minutes of exposure to your face and arms—sans sunscreen—several times per week between the hours of 10AM-2PM. Remember, Mr. Sunshine has a reputation of being unkind to your skin.

D-elightful Tango

Most supplement labels list a dosage of 400 IU daily but doctors now suggest adult dosage begin at 600 IU and may go up to 2000 IU safely.

Foodie Swing

Keep it fun by adding plenty of d-elicious foods! Fish and shellfish are at the top of the list. Egg yolks, fortified dairy, and soy products such as tofu are good. Mushrooms, potatoes and spinach will give you a d-esirable boost as well.

No longer are the wallflowers easily spotted in their coats and galoshes. Too much time indoors, poor diets and the use of sunscreens (although necessary) cause too many of us to “sit this one out.”

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Assistance with choreography may be found at:

The USDA National Agricultural Library http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=1&tax_subject=242

Updated guidelines, reports, charts, etc…

SELF Nutrition Data http://nutritiondata.self.com/

Monitor your diet online, search foods by nutrients or analyze a recipe.

If you have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, depression, acid reflux or diabetes you may want to request that your level be tested. Talk to your doctor about a 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Test.

Some medications interfere with Vitamin D absorption; please check with your doctor.

By Robyn Chausse

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