Vitamin D Deficiency - Another Epidemic?

You may have heard talk lately of Vitamin D deficiency and how common it has become. There are various factors that are contributing to this including environment, the food we eat and our lifestyles. Most Americans are inside all day under artificial lighting – could this be the primary reason we have seen such a wave of people who are vitamin D deficient? We’ve also gone from sun worshiping to sun fearing – another contributor of the D deficiency.

Vitamin D is considered to be one of the most important vitamins you need the proper daily amounts of. Without it, your body is not absorbing calcium correctly which will lead to other problems. Earlier this year I began adding Vitamin D drops to my supplement regimen. Prior to adding the D drops, I had been taking Calcium every day; however, to my dismay, I had blood tests done that revealed I was still low on Calcium and Magnesium! That’s when I learned that Vitamin D’s main role is to absorb calcium. Was I just wasting my time taking the Cal-Mag by itself because I didn’t have the Vitamin D to absorb it properly? It seems that was the case for me.

Bone health: We all know that bone health needs to be given serious attention in our bodies – particularly in women. While many people still believe they need to intake great amounts of cow products to keep their bones healthy, this is not the case. I stand by the belief that the detriments of cow’s milk far outweigh the benefits. The real issue is that when your body does not get the minerals it needs (such as Calcium and Magnesium) you are then at risk for poor bone health and related conditions like osteoporosis. Milk really will not help you here as much as it would hurt you. A serving of milk only has 25% of the “recommended” allowance of Vitamin D. That serving comes with high calories for starters and I feel that many of us need significantly more than the recommended allowance.

The milk story: The dairy industry began to add vitamin D into cow’s milk back in the mid-1900’s as an intervention of the rickets epidemic. At the time this was a positive action, and it was also great for dairy farmers, but for Americans, the problem of course was weight gain and the development of high-fat related diseases. Additionally, back then, cows did not have the hormones, antibiotics and poor diet that they have today, so milk was not at harmful to your health as it is today. Remember that most forms of dairy contain high amounts of fat which greatly contributes to some of our most popular diseases like obesity, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Forget the “skim” products too – from what I can tell, they have also “skimmed” everything good out of the product along with the fat.

What’s the Solution? In today’s world we really have to use science to supplement our vitamin and mineral intake. When I learned I was low on iron, magnesium and calcium, I was frustrated. I eat a lot of spinach and other greens, but it’s still not enough. We must supplement and we must supplement with quality products in their best form. For instance, you get a far greater absorption rate when you take drops or powder than you do with a pill.

How do you know what to supplement? Your regular medical doctor probably won’t be able to help you with this very much. The problem is when you get a normal physical; the blood tests they run compare you to “sick” people and not healthy people. How many people do you know who say “I just don’t feel well, but the doctor says everything is normal”? In order to truly know your levels you would need to go to a more holistic provider such an Integrative Physician or an Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor who will order specific tests. This gets very expensive and your health is well worth it, but, if it’s not an option for you – just know your vitamin and mineral required intake and supplement according to that.

I don’t recommend buying any supplements on a store shelf. The quality just is not there. Research the science behind the supplements you take. This is what you’re putting into your body to make it run so take the time to get educated. I use ©IsaGenix products because they are top notch for what’s available in America. Next, know how many IU’s of each you need. If you are a woman over 35, you may want to consider adding additional calcium, magnesium and Vitamins B and D. Remember, vitamin D deficiency is popular today because of the world we live in and the food we eat, so stay ahead of that curve!

Most importantly, stand by your body, your overall wellness and discover what it is you need. The advantage of hiring a wellness coach is that you have someone to not only support you but to take the lead and guide you to getting the information you need to get you on your best path and stay there for the rest of your life.

Take advantage of the wellness programs Katalina Coaching offers and do take advantage of our free consultation. Remember, we customize every session for you – there is nothing “prescriptive” when you work with us. It’s about discovering you, finding a solution you need, and taking you to a new level of wellness.

Visit www.katalinacoaching.com/wellnessprogram for more information or contact us for your free consultation today!

To research the products we offer, visit www.katalinaolivera.isagenix.com

Here’s to living life now,
Katalina