High dose vitamin D reduces respiratory infections risk

Get through the rest of cold and flu season — unscathed!

This morning I mentioned how lack of sleep can set you up for catching an infection because of a compromised immune system.

Well, this is the time of year that you’ve got to worry most about those bugs and the havoc they can wreak on your health.

It seems like everywhere you turn someone is sniffling, wiping their nose, or hacking up a lung.

And according to the CDC, it’s far from over — because flu season is just STARTING to peak now.

But I’m not here just to bring you dreary news. The silver lining is there’s a cheap, safe, and effective natural supplement that can help boost your body’s defenses against common cold, bronchitis, flu, and that dreaded killer of so many older adults — pneumonia.

Researchers over in snowy Colorado studied the effects of vitamin D supplements on care facility residents over the course of a year.

The patients who took higher doses of vitamin D (as much as 3,400 to 4,400 IUs) slashed their risk of developing acute respiratory infections by nearly HALF — faring better than patients who took just 400 to 1,000 IUs of D daily.

What’s more, the vitamin D also improved the condition of some patients suffering from more severe respiratory issues, like COPD.

Now, you probably know vitamin D as “the sunshine vitamin,” but if you’re like most North American adults, you don’t get enough direct UVB exposure on a daily basis — especially during the cold, dark winter months — to keep your levels up at optimal levels.

It’s only January, so you’ve got another couple of months before you can let your guard down even just a little bit.

It’s important to know where your D levels are at, especially since most of us are deficient, especially as we get older. Your doc can run some bloodwork to see how you’re doing, but I find most conventional doctors don’t recommend as high a dose of D supplements as you might need.

Check with a doctor well-versed in integrative medicine to work on a plan that’s right for you. I usually recommend at least 2000 IUs of D daily, but some people need more like 4000 IUs daily.

But that’s not all you can do to keep your immune system strong.

About elderberry extract and zinc have also been proven to shore up your immunity. There are a range of different zinc pills, sprays, and lozenges you can buy.

You can also get lots of zinc the most natural way — by adding fresh lamb and beef to your diet. While you can also find zinc in plant-based foods like cabbage, beans, and nuts, your body is more likely to absorb it better if it comes from a meat source.

And, as always, get plenty of rest. That’s true especially if you manage to get sick — but even if you feel perfectly well, sleeping a full seven or eight hours a night will help you stay that way.

Sources:
Flu Season Starting to Peak
(www.webmd.com)

Vitamin D reduces respiratory infections
(www.sciencedaily.com)