What the Cows Know…
August 31, 2008 by Tina Radcliffe
Filed under DIABETES
The dairy cow knows the value of Vitamin D.
And now so do researchers.
Study participants were given Vitamin D supplements (typical infant multivitamins) from birth on and after a tracking period of 15 to 30 years it was found that they were 29% less likely to develop type 1 diabetes than those infants who did not receive the supplemental Vitamin D. (Archives of Disease in Childhood) You can read the entire story here.
Low levels of Vitamin D apparently leads to insulin resistance.
Sources of Vitamin D:
- Vitamin D is synthesized in the human skin when it is exposed to ultraviolet light
- Fortified milk
- Swiss Cheese
- Beef Liver
- Fish (mackerel, tuna, sardines)
- Eggs
- Cod liver oil
And according to this associated article from USA Today News: June 14, 2008, Vitamin D Tests Soar As Deficiency, Diseases Linked—more doctors are testing for Vitamin D deficiency related diseases than ever before as more than 35% of adult Americans are found to have low levels.
How Much Vitamin D Do We Need?
Per the Mayo Clinic:
“You’re unlikely to get too much vitamin D from the food you eat, and prolonged sun exposure doesn’t seem to cause vitamin D toxicity. Over time, however, megadoses of vitamin D supplements can cause
nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss. More seriously, excessive doses of vitamin D can raise the level of calcium in your blood — which can cause confusion and changes in heart rhythm. Generally, the upper limit for vitamin D is 2,000 IU a day.”
Recipes to Enrich the Vitamin D in Your Diet:
- From Cooking Light: Vitamin D Friendly Recipes including Espresso Soy Milk Shake and Cajun Salmon Cakes.
- Sautéed Chard and Salmon recipe from Whole Foods.
- Egg Casserole from dLife
