Vitamin D Deficiency: How this leaves you prone to flu

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is an absolutely must have to fight the cold weather and flu season just around the corner, you might want to consider supplementation.

Our body makes Vitamin D directly  from food and sunshine and this “supercharged” vitamin D cannot be sourced anywhere else.  Osteoporoisis and other autoimmune diseases are prevented by having enough of this vitamin in our system.

Little do we know that too much calcium and animal proteins can block the production of Vitamin D in our body. Low levels of vitamin D can result in health issues as we become susceptible to autoimmune diseases. In areas where there is not too much sun, supplement with Vitamin D3 is absolutely crucial.  Also, vitamin D3 should always go with vitamin K2 to avoid vitamin D toxicity, which could result in inappropriate calcification or hardening of arteries. MK-7 (menaquinone-7), commonly found in fermented food is where you can best get Vitamin K2.  Research is still ongoing on the exact amount of intake needed for K2 but generally it is believed that 10 micrograms is enough to activate your body’s K2 dependent proteins and check the calcium levels in your body.

In terms of dosage, the brillant Dr Patrick Kinsgley[1] recommends:

“(to) start off with 10,000 IU D3 (yes ten thousand IU) daily for at least two to three weeks and then drop the dose to 5,000IU every day or 10,000IU Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You should also take at least 150mcg vitamin K2 at the same time so that all your calcium is directed to where it should go. Without K2, calcium will be deposited in your arteries and around any inflammation. Incidentally, vitamin D has now been established as anti-inflammatory, so good levels are essential.”

 

How does vitamin D impact on the Flu?

Flu, is actually a Vitamin D deficiency  –  not something you got because you sat beside someone coughing or blowing their nose in the bus.  According to Dr John Cannell of the Vitamin D council, and one one the most respected Vitamin D researchers in the world, Vitamin D produces the very chemical compounds in our body that makes us resistant to flu.  Sunshine is a very essential component for our bodies to produce Vitamin D. When winter comes, we layer ourselves with clothes or take refuge in places protected from daylight and the sun in particular, as a result people are prone to have flu more often.

In the journal Nature Immunology, the Vitamin D protection and the activation of T cells are explained to be essential in our immune system :  “When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D. This means the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won’t even begin to mobilize.”

Vitamin D deficiency is tricky to detect.  Most often,  when detected,  you’re already sick and it would take several weeks to raise your Vitamin D levels especially if you already have a full-blown flu.  Natural remedies like taking cod liver oil or skate liver oil are one of the existing options. Supplementing with a good quality vitamin D3 all year long is actually recommended.

The 10 signs of  Vitamin D deficiency

….Which should be addressed ASAP.

Chronic Pain

Serious Vitamin D deficiency can be detected with bone pain or general chronic pain.  Dr. Greg Plotnikoff, a senior consultant of Allina Centerfor Health Care Innovations, pointed out that 93% of the 150 people with chronic pain in his study suffered from extremely low Vitamin D levels.

Muscle Weakness

Generally, muscle weakness issues are low Vitamin D related.  The National Institutes of Health reports that a person suffering from vitamin D deficiency will have trouble with proper muscle function.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder and may be related to Vitamin D deficiency.  If you have the disease, have your vitamin D levels checked and supplement with vitamin D3.

Constant Fatigue

Get yourself checked if you are always tired.  Lack of vitamin D means your body cannot produce as much energy as you need and that causes you to be sluggish and weak.

Depression

Vitamin D is critical for the brain to produce serotonin, a “happy hormone” produced by the brain.  SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder is very common during the winter months  and is probably  caused by lack of sun exposure.

Sweaty Head

As reported in NDHealth Facts, old doctors used to check mothers for unusually sweaty heads for vitamin D deficiency. Also. Having a sweaty head is a symptom of Rickets, a fatal vitamin D disease in children.

Recurring Respiratory Problems

Low vitamin D gives you low resistance to flu and respiratory diseases especially to children who can have pneumonia or bronchitis often. Take Vitamin D for your respiratory health.

Cardiovascular diseases

Vitamin D deficiency was discovered to be a risk factor which leads to congestive heart failure by the National Institute of Health.  Furthermore, the Vitamin D Council recommends  a daily intake of fermented cod liver oil to prevent having cardiovascular diseases.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney disease sufferers have alarmingly low levels of Vitamin D.  chronic Kidney disease may also lead to heart problems.

You always have an infection

Check your Vitamin D levels ASAP if you are always sick with some sort of infection.  Your immune system may be at risk and your health will deteriorate.

If you have any of these symptoms, get checked by a medical professional. For prevention, take a good supplement of vitamin D3 all year long as recommended by Dr Kingsley and observed by the author ;).

 Sources:

[1] https://www.facebook.com/drpatrickkingsley

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