VITAMINS C AND D KEEPING US HEALTHY
by Rick Coupland
Our bodies require vitamins and minerals so that we can grow,
heal and stay healthy. There are many types of vitamins; each
serves a different role or function within us. As we've discussed
in past articles, our foods today are depleted of these
nutrients, so it is therefore vital that we include them with
each meal.
It really is frustrating to hear doctors giving advice on
vitamins nowadays. "You don't need to take vitamins if you eat 3
healthy meals a day". While this is technically true, how many of
us are eating 3 organically grown, well-balanced meals daily? And
when we do read that we should be taking vitamins, the
recommended dosage is usually so low that they are of very little
benefit to us.
Some opponents of natural medicine say vitamins are extremely
dangerous for our health, and they should be regulated. Well
according to a recently published report, statistics from the
U.S. National Poison Data System state the number of people
killed in 2009 across America by vitamins, minerals and/or herbal
supplements is exactly zero. (Compare that statistic to
prescribed drugs!)
While all vitamins are necessary, there are none more important
than vitamins C and D. Deficiencies in these two vitamins
increases risk of virtually every sickness we have today. Nervous
system and emotional disorders, asthma, week bones and teeth and
retarded muscle growth can all be contributed to being deficient
in these vitamins.
Together, vitamins C and D are the best defence against all
flues, and yes, that includes the H1N1 virus. Sadly, we are now
starting to hear of the side effects people are incurring from
the latest bout of H1N1 vaccinations. GBS, the nervous system
disorder that affected so many people during the last H1N1
outbreak, is once again being attributed to the vaccine.
Good sources of vitamin C can be found in both fruits and
vegetables, (parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries,
oranges, lemon juice .... just to name a few). This vitamin helps
your body to resist infections, absorb calcium to help strengthen
teeth and bones, aids in all healing processes and in general is
necessary for good, overall health.
Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant, a powerful nutrient that
protects your health by fighting against free radicals in your
body. (Because vitamin C is water-soluble the body is unable to
store it, so it must be replenished daily). As free radical
damage continues, cells can no longer perform properly, and
therefore tissues begin to degrade and disease sets in. According
to Dr.Mercola, a nutrition expert, here are some excellent food
sources of antioxidants:
1. Fruits: Cranberries, blueberries and blackberries
2. Vegetables: Beans, artichokes
3. Nuts: Pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts
4. Spices: Ground cloves, ground cinnamon and oregano
We should be taking about 3 grams of vitamin C a day, and more
when we are sick. A common myth is too much vitamin C will do
damage to your kidneys, but that is all this is .... a myth. You
cannot take too much vitamin C. Some doctors have been known to
treat cancer patients with megadoses of this vitamin
intravenously, as much as 250 grams or more per day. The worst
side effect was feeling "a little nauseous".
Vitamin D, more specifically vitamin D3, is the cheapest
supplement of them all. It's free! Vitamin D3 is obtained from
sunshine, and this is all the vitamin D we need. Exposing our
skin to 20 minutes of sunshine every day can obtain 10,000 to
20,000 IU's of this nutrient. And if we are in the sunshine too
long, our body will only absorb the required daily amount. (We
must, of course, be sure not to get sun-burned, as this does much
more harm than good). Now you're probably thinking that we've
been told to cover our bodies in sun-screen lotions to avoid the
sun, but remember this fact: Whatever you put on your skin is
absorbed into your bloodstream. Read the labels of these lotions
.... nothing but chemicals. Many nutritional experts believe
these lotions cause cancer, rather than prevent it!
Unfortunately, if you're like me, you probably don't feel like
going outside in the middle of winter in a pair of shorts and t-
shirt, just to obtain your daily dose of sunshine. The lack of
intensity in the sun in the winter time, along with the majority
of us being cooped up indoors, is a major contributing factor to
why we get the flu this time of the year.
Just like vitamin C, vitamin D3 aids your body in the absorption
of many required minerals. It also plays an important part in
bone growth, and along with maintenance of your liver and
kidneys. Proper levels of vitamin D go a long way in preventing
bone diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis. Vitamin D
contributes to the function of the thyroid gland and the immune
system. The more sunlight you get, (or vitamin D3), the better
your cardiovascular health will be. New research suggests that
vitamin D may have a protective role against multiple sclerosis
and other autoimmune conditions.
Here are some eyeopening facts that are the results of research
on vitamin D by Dr.Garland:
1. Some 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancers could be
prevented worldwide each year if vitamin D levels among
populations were increased. And that's just counting the death
toll for two types of cancer.
2. Optimizing your vitamin D levels could help you to great
least 16 different of cancer including pancreatic, lung, ovarian,
prostate, and skin cancers.
3. Outside of cancer, increasing levels of vitamin D could
prevent diseases that claim nearly 1 million lives throughout the
world each year!
When taking a vitamin D3 supplement, a good guideline for a
recommended dosage is 35 IU's for every pound of body weight.
Somebody that weighs 100 pounds, for example, should take 3,500
IU's per day. A 170 pound adult should take nearly 6,000 IU's per
day. Keep in mind everybody's body is different, and it is
suggested blood tests can identify the need for more vitamin D3,
if necessary.
..............
Rick Coupland writes for www.associationcovenantpeople.org
..............
Note:
I'm not convinced that such large amounts of vitamin D are
required for good health, as stated above.
Good health is a lot more than just vitamin D.
Since we have messed up the ozone up-above us, I have not done
any "sun-bathing" for 30 years. I do not recommend you do it
either.
I do take 1,500 IU's a day of vitamin D3 and 1,000 mg of vitamin
C, more if I feel anything coming on like a cold, which I seldom
get, maybe once every 4 years or so. I had excellent health all
my life, and still do. I've eaten a good balanced diet, whole
wheat flour, cereals, fruits, nuts, whole milk when I could get
it, organic meats (clean meats as the Bible lays out) when I
could get it, salmon, beans, eggs (free run), butter, and yes
chocolate (I'm a choco-holic :-) ) - dark is the best, but I must
say I do like "creamy" the most, but I now eat dark also. Oh, yes
must not forget "liquorice" - the molasses kind, for it contains
lots of good minerals.
Minerals are very important, more important than many believe,
most people do not know how important they are. So I take a
multi-vitamin/mineral supplement also, one of those now modern
"over 50 plus" ones. I also take other vitamin supplements like E
and Lecithin, Calcium/Magnesium, Odorless Garlic, and supplements
specifically for the prostate gland. And I drink lots of those
good natural organic fruit-drinks most large grocery stores now
stock.
Yes, it takes an effort on your part to be healthy.
Keith Hunt
|
