I am sure by now you have caught some of the news on vitamin D deficiency and how this can seriously affect your health. Through the media and hopefully through your own research you may have learned that vitamin D is responsible for:
- Healthy Bones & Joints
- Healthy Colon & Digestion
- Memory & Concentration
- Breast & Prostate Health
- Proper Cell Replication
- Enhanced Immune System
But no one is giving any options on which type of vitamin D to buy. Most people opt to have their doctors write them a prescription for vitamin D which is OK but should not be not your optimal choice. Why?
Well because most vitamin D prescribed by doctors is in the form of vitamin D2 also known as Ergocalciferol. However the over the vitamin D you can purchase online or at health food stores in the form of Vitamin D3, (Cholecalciferol), is a much better choice. Studies have shown that D2 prescribed by your doc may be about 10% as effective as vitamin D3. Research has also shown that vitamin D2 can potentially be more toxic when compared to vitamin D3.
In addition to the above issues with vitamin D2 you will need to take more of the vitamin to prevent or treat deficiency and you will also need to take a higher dose more frequently. Vitamin D3 on the other hand stays in your blood at a rate of 50% for up to 3 weeks after you take a dose. So it proves to be a much better option than D2.
Alrighty then, so where do you get a good vitamin D3 supplement? Here are two that I like. The first one is my preferred choice. It is by Metagenics and it has vitamin K2 which helps with absorption. It is sold in 10,000 IU, so for someone dealing with a deficiency this brand may be a good option. The other brand I like is Vitamin Code RAW D3 by Garden Life. I like this supplement because it offers probiotics and enzymes along with D3. It is also gluten and dairy-free with no soy allergens, binders or fillers. But another reason to choose Vitamin Code RAW D3 is because it is a raw source of vitamin D3.
Speaking about raw sources of vitamin D remember that Children need extra protection from the sun especially babies. Most skin damage from the sun occurs before the age of 18. One or two blistering sunburns before the age of 18 may increase the risk of skin cancer. So encourage children to play in the sun responsibly and allow them access to shaded areas as needed.
So where do you get Vitamin Code RAW D3 or Metagenics D3 with K2? You can order online from various vitamin shops, on Amazon or at your local health food store.
And if you are looking for a great vitamin D supplement for your babies and children I absolutely love these tasteless drops by Carlson Labs. You can purchase them here or at your neighborhood health food store.
If you want to read up on more articles relating to vitamin D visit any one of the sources for my article below:
1) http://www.easy-immune-health.com/V…
2) http://www.jbc.org/cgi/reprint/120/…
3) http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abs…
Signing off to fight crime.
I love this article. Its so informative and I also love the links you gave about proper sun care. You know we were talking about that the other day so I am glad you decided to do an article on it. I am running of to Wholefoods to get the Raw d3 vitamins you recommend here. Gracias Chica Organica