Vitamin D May Reduce Risk of Colds and Flu

vitamin d

Vitamin D can decrease danger of breathing infections, the common cold, and influenza. Vitamin D can be obtained via exposure to sunlight and from some foods, but most folks lack the levels of Vitamin D needed for healthy function of the body.

Daily or weekly supplements of vitamin D could mean 3.25 million fewer people in the UK having at least one respiratory infection a year, states a recent study.

Daily or weekly supplements of vitamin D would also mean 3.25 million fewer people in the UK having at least one breathing infection a year, says the research study.

Adding vitamin D to food would substantially cut NHS costs, state the authors of a major worldwide research study that shows it can reduce the danger of colds, influenza and other harmful infections such as pneumonia.

A federal government advisory committee on nutrition has actually currently warned of the low levels of the so-called “sunshine vitamin” in the UK population and suggested food fortification as a possible strategy. In the US, for example, milk is fortified with vitamin D.

A study published in the British Medical Journal needed to include convincing proof in favor of fortification, argues its lead author. “The outcomes are likely to change the cost/benefit analysis significantly,” said Adrian Martineau, scientific teacher of breathing infection and resistance at Queen Mary University of London.

Lots of research studies have tried to discover whether the increase in colds and flu in the winter is partially due to a lack of sunlight producing vitamin D in the body, but they have actually had blended outcomes. The team from Queen Mary argue that their work settles the concern since they have actually re-analyzed and pooled the raw data from 25 medical trials involving about 11,000 patients from 14 nations. The research studies that discovered no advantage had actually usually offered people a big one-off dosage of vitamin D instead of regular supplements.

Martineau and his group say their results show a substantial however modest benefit for everybody who takes vitamin D everyday or weekly, however a more significant advantage for those who have low levels of it in their bodies. These may be people who do not get outdoors often, cover themselves from the sun or for religious reasons, or have dark skins which absorb less sunlight. It is tough to get enough vitamin D from food– it remains in oily fish and shiitake mushrooms, however not much else.

Taking a regular supplement cut in half the rate of breathing infections in individuals with the lowest levels of vitamin D, below 25 nanomoles a litre (nmol/L). But it also cut infections by 10% amongst those with greater vitamin D levels.

Breathing infections, which can include influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia, take a big toll on the nation’s health. About 70% of the UK population get one breathing infection in any year, with 25% going to the GP. They are the most common reason for a GP assessment and days off work. More than 50% end up with a prescription for antibiotics, which is inappropriate since they are typically triggered by a virus. These infections are accountable for 300,000 hospitalizations a year in the UK and about 38,000 people die.

Worldwide these types of sicknesses caused an approximated 2.65 million deaths in 2013.

The Queen Mary researchers calculate that day-to-day or weekly supplements of vitamin D would indicate 3.25 million fewer individuals in the UK having at least one respiratory infection a year, assuming a population of 65 million.

” Vitamin D fortification of foods offers a constant, low-level intake of vitamin D that has practically gotten rid of extensive vitamin D deficiency in a number of countries,” stated Martineau.

” By showing this brand-new advantage of vitamin D, our research study reinforces the case for introducing food fortification to improve vitamin D levels in countries such as the UK where profound vitamin D shortage is common.”.

Although the authors consider the case shown, researchers are still divided. Mark Bolland from the University of Auckland and Alison Avenell from the University of Aberdeen say in an editorial in the BMJ that big randomised controlled trials– comparing people taking vitamin D with others who do not– are still needed.

” Present evidence does not support using vitamin D supplements to avoid illness, other than for those at high risk of osteomalacia (weak bones and muscles due to low blood vitamin D levels, currently specified as less than 25 nmol/L),” they said.

Others praise the Queen Mary research study. “Bolland and other skeptics attempt to discover weak points in Martineau’s analysis,” stated Dr Benjamin Jacobs, a consultant pediatrician at the Royal National Orthopedic health center.

” Martineau’s information is strong, from 11,000 patients in good quality medical trials around the world. The case for universal vitamin D supplements, or food fortification with vitamin D, is now undeniable. Governments and health specialists have to take Martineau’s research study into account when setting vitamin D policy now.”.

Martin Hewison, professor of molecular endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, said he concurred the case for vitamin D supplements against respiratory infections was proven.

” This may be particularly essential for people in the UK who are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the winter,” he stated, adding that greater doses than currently advised for bone health might be needed and required more trials. Low levels of vitamin D can trigger the bone disease rickets in children.

Prof Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, stated PHE currently suggested everybody should take vitamin D throughout the winter season, based upon the suggestions of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Those who get low doses of the sun’s rays due to the fact that of their skin or clothes or staying indoors must take 10 micrograms all year round, he stated.

However he was not convinced of the case for vitamin D versus colds and flu. “The evidence on vitamin D and infection is irregular and this research study does not offer adequate evidence to support recommending vitamin D for minimizing the threat of respiratory tract infections,” he stated.

The Department for Health said: “The vast majority of people get the Vitamin D they require through a healthy diet plan and sun exposure. However, specialists do suggest supplements for specific groups of people, and advise everyone to think about taking them in the cold weather. Necessary food fortification is a complex issue, but experts keep proof under evaluation.”.

 

Danger, Don’t take Vitamin D Without Vitamin K

Shockingly 80 % of Americans are Vitamin K Deficient!

Anyone with a vitamin K shortage is extremely vulnerable to severe and even harmful illness including: brain disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, osteoporosis, heel spurs, kidney stones and cardiac arrest.

Regrettably, many people are not familiar with the outstanding health benefits of vitamin K.

Unfortunately, the K vitamins have been underrated and misconstrued until recently in the scientific community.

It’s important to preserve a synergistic balance between vitamin K2, vitamin D, and Magnesium. Vitamin K2 and magnesium work together like vitamin D and K2. Otherwise, your health might be in jeopardy.

As a reader of our blog you are probably already using Youngevity products.  In that case, you are covered!

Tangy Tangerine already contains an optimal amount of Vitamin K

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Vitamin K History

Vitamin K was initially found in Germany in 1929 where the findings were released in a German scientific journal. Vitamin K was characterized just as an important nutrient for proper blood coagulation (blood clot). The Germans called it Koagulationsvitamin; that’s where the “K” originates from.

Nevertheless, the health benefits of vitamin K2 go far beyond simple blood clot, which is mainly the domain of vitamin K1. Moreover, vitamin K2 operates in synergy with other nutrients or co-factors like calcium, magnesium and vitamin D and A. Vitamin K2’s most pressing purpose is to escort calcium into the suitable areas of the body where it’s needed and can be correctly utilized. For example, it moves calcium into the bones and teeth and ushers it far from the arteries and other soft tissues where it can be dangerous– even fatal.

The unique yet collaborating functions of K1 and K2.

In general the general function of Vitamin K centers on its capability to customize proteins, so they can bind with calcium. Particularly, it “turns on” or turns on the calcium-binding buildings of proteins. While, it’s real that vitamin K1 is mostly made use of by the liver so it can turn on calcium-binding proteins required for blood clot K2 likewise triggers proteins, but primarily for a completely different purpose. K2 is the principal regulatory authority of calcium and eventually identifies where calcium end up in the body.

Dr. Leon Schurgers, a senior scientist who did his PhD work on vitamin K explains the information behind the overlapping coagulation functions of K1 and K2:”Both vitamins K1 and K2 trigger certain coagulation elements. Particularly, there are four coagulation factors (Factor 2, 7, 9, and 10) in the coagulation waterfall that are activated by vitamins K1 and K2.”.

The Three Types of Vitamin K.

1. Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is plentiful specifically in green veggies; K1 travels directly to your liver and supports healthy blood clotting.
2. Vitamin K2, likewise called menaquinone, is ideally made by the germs that line your gastrointestinal tract; K2 goes straight to your capillary walls, bones, and tissues but bypasses the liver.
3. Vitamin K3, or menadione, is an artificial form of K2 and is not recommend as it can be poisonous. In reality, infants injected with this synthetic version of vitamin K2 have actually displayed toxicity symptoms.

Furthermore, vitamin K2 has 2 subcategories:.

1. MK-4 (menaquinone-4) is a short-chain type of vitamin K2 discovered in butter, egg yolks, and other animal-based foods.
2. MK-7 (menaquinone-7) is a longer-chain variety of vitamin K2 and the most typical form. It’s a natural bacterial obtained K2 found in particular fermented foods.
3. The MK-7 type K2 is a germs driven originated from a fermentation process, which provides various health advantages:.

a. It stays in your body longer than the MK4 variety of K2 b. It has a longer half-life than MK4, which needs one to take it just once a day, yet get all its advantages throughout the day.

Key Vitamin K Points

The main function of Vitamin K is to trigger the calcium-binding properties of proteins. K1 is mostly associated with blood clotting, while K2 helps regulate where calcium lastly winds up in the body. A high intake of vitamin K2 is highly associated with a decreased threat of heart disease.

K2 is essential for preserving strong bones, teeth, and healthy arteries devoid of calcification.

If you take an oral vitamin D supplement, it’s necessary that you also consume foods that contain sufficient quantities of vitamin K2. Or less ideally, you can take a vitamin K2 supplement. Otherwise, you might unintentionally harm your health.

The reason you require vitamin K2 is since when you take a vitamin D supplement, your body immediately develops more vitamin K2-dependent proteins– the proteins that assist move the calcium around in your body. You require vitamin K2 to turn on those proteins. If they’re not activated, the calcium in your body will not be properly dispersed to where it’s required and wind up where it will do damage, resulting in weak bones and solidified arteries. Also, vitamin D and K2 interact as partners to strengthen your bones and improve your heart health.

Heart Health

America’s Heart Health Issues…

– About 600,000 individuals pass away of heart related issues in the United States every year– that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.1.
– Poor Heart health is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart problem in 2009 remained in males.1.
– Poor coronary heart health is the most typical kind, killing nearly 380,000 people annually.1.
– Every year about 720,000 Americans have a cardiac arrest. Of these, 515,000 are a first heart attack and 205,000 happen in individuals who have actually already had a cardiac arrest.2.
– Coronary heart health alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year.3 This overall consists of the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.
Source: CDC.

A major threat element for cardiovascular disease is the deposition and accretion of calcium around the heart and arteries.

Vitamin K2 avoids calcium from being transferred in the arteries.

In 2004 The Rotterdam Study an ongoing epidemiological research discovered that high nutritional consumption of vitamin K2– but not vitamin K1– is a safeguard against heart disease.

According to PubMed another epidemiological study consisting of 16,057 women discovered that those with the greatest intake of vitamin K2 had a considerably lower danger of cardiovascular disease. Every 10 micrograms of K2 taken in daily, decreased the threat of cardiovascular disease by 9 %.

2) Brain.

K2 also appears to contribute in preserving optimal vascular circulation to the brain. It has been observed via autopsy that many of those detected with Alzheimer’s suffered from vascular degeneration. The present literature although limited recommends that vitamin K2 might play a considerable role in avoiding Alzheimer’s by hindering plaque deposition in the brain.

Vitamin K2 and Bone Health

Poor bone health indicates “permeable” bones, and it’s an all too common problem suffered mostly by females in Western countries. We understand Vitamin K2 plays a vital role in calcium metabolism and calcium is among the main minerals found in bones. Vitamin K2 triggers proteins involved in calcium-binding called Matrix gla protein and osteocalcin, which aid in building and preserving bones.

Long term studies with Japanese ladies showed significant enhancement in bone health when high dosages of vitamin K2 were administered. In fact, from 13 distinct trials only one failed to show enhancement.

7 of these Japanese trials found vitamin K2 reduced spinal fractures by 77 % and all other kinds of fractures by an impressive 81 %.

Based upon this research, Japanese medical professionals consistently suggest vitamin K2 supplements for the prevention and treatment of poor bone health.

Another research study, a 3-year trial with 244 postmenopausal females showed that female who were taking K2 supplements had substantially slower age related bone mineral density loss compared with those who didn’t supplement with K2.

 

Dental Health and Vitamin K2

Scientific studies way back in 1945 discovered that vitamin K2 was effective at preventing dental cavities. The American researchers made use of a double-blind, placebo-controlled research study with a chewing gum that had a vitamin K2 precursor (menadione) contributed to it.

Outcomes: Those using the special K2 gum not only had a decrease in brand-new cavities, there was also a significant reduction in bad bacteria in the mouth, the kind of bacteria which causes cavities.

Conclusion: We know without doubt that vitamin K2 is essential for maintaining skeletal health and teeth belong to the skeletal system. It follows that the condition of your teeth is a dependable reflection of your total skeletal system.

According to Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue, naturopathic doctor and author of the book: Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life:.

“… for so long, we’ve been informed to take calcium for osteoporosis … and vitamin D, which we know is valuable. However then, more research studies coming out revealing that enhanced calcium consumption is triggering more cardiac arrest and strokes. That created a lot of confusion around whether calcium is safe or not. But that’s the incorrect concern to be asking because we’ll never effectively understand the health benefits of calcium or vitamin D, unless we take into consideration K2. That’s what keeps the calcium in its best place.”.

Foods Rich In Vitamin K2

To fully benefit from animal sources of MK4, they need to be grass-fed and organic. Milk products must be full fat and stemmed from grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic free cows. Liver and other organ meats also need to be natural and grass fed. Egg yolks must come from pastured chickens. Vitamin K is fat-soluble so low-fat and lean animal items include very little K2 (MK4).

Bottom Line: The K2 material of pasteurized milk and other items from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are NOT a good source of K2 and must be prevented.

KEEP IN MIND: Cheeses are an exception to the grass fed rule when it pertains to K2. Although if possible, cheese from grass fed cows is the very best alternative for general nutrition. However high levels of K2 found in a few select cheeses are bacteria driven. The type of bacteria utilized in making the cheese is the vital to their K2 content. For example, Gouda and Brie are understood to be high in K2, even if they don’t originate from yard fed cows.

Bottom Line: vitamin K originates from 2 sources: K1 is stemmed from plant sources and K2 is discovered in animal sources. The greatest levels of vitamin K2 are discovered in a choice group of fermented foods.

The following table consists of quotes of the K2 content of different foods.

Natto (3.5 ounces) 1,000 mcg.
Fermented veggies made with Kinetic Culture (2 ounces) 400-500 mcg.
Entire egg mayonnaise 197 mcg.
Gouda or Brie cheese (1 ounce).
75 mcg.
Miso 10-30 mcg.
Lamb or duck (1 cup) 6 mcg.
Beef liver (1 cup) 5 mcg.
Dark meat turkey (1 cup) 5 mcg.
Chicken liver (1 cup) 3 mpg.

Take Home Message…

It’s important to preserve a synergistic balance between vitamin K2, vitamin D, and Magnesium. Vitamin K2 and magnesium work together like vitamin D and K2. Otherwise, your health might be in jeopardy.

5 Little Known Nutrients

If you have learned anything about Youngevity, then you know that Dr. Joel Wallach has identified 90 Essential Minerals, Vitamins and nutrients known as the 90 Essentials i.e. (90 for life)

We are going to take a look at five of these little known, yet vital nutrients.

Sulfur

Sulfur originates from the ocean and is provided to our environment by the rain cycle. Greenhouse growing, watering, artificial agricultural chemicals, under ripe harvesting and excessive processing of our foods have all added to a sulfur lacking population.

Without sulfur a healthy cell can not form. Sulfur is the 4th most plentiful aspect in our body. It is essential for cell membrane permeability. A permeable cell membrane is necessary for nutrient shipment and waste elimination.

This is why we discover it so important in any nutrition strategy. When sufficient sulfur is supplied to the body’s cells, it can soak up nutrients and clean waste more effectively. Sulfur is also a vital structural mineral, vital for the healthy production and versatility of skin, hair, nails, bones, and connective tissue.

Iodine

Can you think about somebody you understand of who has to take thyroid medication or has a recognized thyroid problem such as hypothyroidism? It is all too typical and quite troubling why there is not more done for prevention.

Your thyroid resembles an engine that works on iodine. It has to stay complemented or it will sputter and ultimately stop running. Iodine shortage has been linked to a lot of health problems we would need to compose a different post just to detail it.

Researchers have actually discovered that your thyroid can hold up to 50 mg of iodine! New research study is recommending as much as 12.5 mg daily, which is over 80 times the RDA.

In addition, we are being exposed to the hazardous halogens (which diminish iodine) such as bromide, chlorine, and fluoride. Iodine is extremely important for intelligence, brain development, immune function, hormonal agent balance, energy and metabolic process.

Magnesium

The majority of us have actually got the message about the widespread deficiency of this important mineral. Magnesium is made use of for over 350 cellular procedures. A shortage of this mineral can materialize into lots of health challenges. Magnesium is special because it is essential for energy production at a cellular level as well as sleep and relaxation.

Magnesium is made use of by the body to take in vitamin D, unwind muscles, balance frequently high calcium levels, make sure neurological health, hormone production, and heart function.

High magnesium including foods are raw cacao, pumpkin seeds, garbonzo beans, wheat germ, and dark leafy greens.

Omega 3

The dry weight of our brain is 70 % fat. The majority of these fats are Omega 3 in the form of DHA and EPA. DHA is more plentiful in the brain and eyes where EPA is more focused in the heart and joints.

DHA and EPA are the forms that the body makes use of and ought to be focused on when trying to find dietary sources. There are many plant sources of Omega 3, such as flax seed, however they are in the form of ALA, which has to be transformed by the body. The conversion of ALA has actually been revealed to be highly variable and poor amongst studied individuals.

Food sources of EPA and DHA consist of cold water fish, turf fed and completed beef, and pastured egg yolks. Due to the high omega 6 fat consumption like canola, sunflower, and soybean oil in our modern diet, our bodies are in need of bigger dosages of omega 3 to assist in the perfect ratio. This is best achieved by including a DHA/EPA supplement to your diet plan.

Vitamin D

Most people understand the significance of this vitamin by now, however did you understand that it is really a hormonal agent? Vitamin D plays an essential role in balancing estrogen due to its androgen supporting qualities. Researches are revealing it supports healthy testosterone levels, which is essential to combat the abundance of harmful estrogen-mimicking compounds indicating altered cell development in humans.

These androgen qualities of Vitamin D are liable for not only making our bones stronger, however our muscles too. There are over 1000 other bodily functions based on Vitamin D, too long a list to enter into, but know that it is vital down to the health of our DNA.

See a full list of the 90 Essential Vitamins and Nutrients Here