The state of our immune system is influenced by 2 main variables. The first is the amount of stressors in our lives…(stresses like foods/drinks we consume, Subluxation in our spine, relationships, etc).
Clearly the amount of stressors in our lives are NOT just SEASONAL, this is why many people still get colds and flus in the summer months. So why do MORE people get colds and flus in the fall and winter months? What is a seasonal variable that can explain a significant change in our immune function? More emotional stress around holidays? More sugar consumption from Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year’s? TRUE. But guess what else – Vitamin D! (Aloia JF, Li-Ng M. Re: epidemic influenza and vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2007 Oct;135(7):1095-6; author reply 1097-8.)
Humans require sunlight exposure to produce Vitamin D and during the fall and winter months we simply reduce the amount of sun exposure and thus reduce the amount of Vitamin D. Why is this important? Because a sufficient level of Vitamin D is ESSENTIAL to maintain immune function! This is the second variable that influences the state of our immune system – being sufficient in the raw materials our immune system requires in order to function properly. Vitamin D is one of those materials.
What diseases are associated with Vitamin D deficiency?
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
- Osteoporosis and Osteopenia (Bone Loss)
- 17 different types of Cancer (including breast, prostate and colon)
- Obesity
- Influenza (flu)
- Colds
- Autoimmune diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Bursitis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Gout
- Infertility and PMS
- Periodontal disease
- Psoriasis
Because Vitamin D is so important in the regulation of so many cellular, tissue, organ, and system functions, deficiency of this essential nutrient has been shown to play a role in almost every major disease. The real issue is not what specific disease will develop but the fact that deficiency results in a decrease of health and function and an increase risk of illness.
My recommendation for a Vitamin D supplement is Organic Vitamin D Sufficiency by Innate Choice, available for sale at Clearview Chiropractic Life Center!