Benefits of Supplementing with Vitamin D3

As winter approaches, the days become shorter and direct sun exposure decreases. For those of us living in northern climates, this means we are not producing adequate amounts of vitamin D. This also means that existing disease symptoms may worsen or we put us at an increased risk for:

• chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, ulcerative colitis, obesity
• poor immunity, leading to increased occurrence of colds and flu
• decreased energy and concentration

A safe, fast, and simple way to reduce these risks is to supplement with vitamin D3 or fish oils that contain added vitamin D3 from mid-November to mid-April (when decreased sun exposure limits the amount of vitamin D our body produces.) The fish oil - vitamin D3 combination is a good choice due to the following benefits:

• increases absorption of calcium
• down-regulates cancer cells
• regulates thyroid function
• keeps mucus membranes moist (viruses thrive in dry environments)
• strengthens the immune system
• fights infections
• promotes healthy skin and eyes
• acts as an antioxidant
• acts as an anti-inflammatory

To ensure your brand of fish oil is of good quality, look for oils that are:

• free of mercury, PCBs, and contaminants (made from small fish which are low on the food chain)
• third-party (independent laboratory) tested
• low in oxidation levels
• combined with low levels of vitamin E
• not made with cod liver oil (due to high levels of vitamin A causing potential toxicity, especially if combined with a diet high in vegetables and multivitamin supplementation)

For most people, 1 TBSP daily is adequate.

For those of you who are queasy about supplementing with fish oil, you may supplement with 1000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.