The swine flu and vitamin D connection
Vitamin D has been the hottest nutrient on the block for the last couple of years. Initially medical science relegated it to a role merely as a bone strengthener but recent research has confirmed what naturopaths have long said, that it is an essential nutrient with far reaching actions.
The vitamin is currently under the spotlight in a leading role in preventing swine flu. The fact that influenza (of any strain) is most prevalent in the low UV exposure season of winter is getting researchers thinking that Vitamin D could actually prevent you catching H1N1.
The Canadian government is taking this hypothesis seriously enough to propose that all positive cases of swine flu in the country have their vitamin D levels tested.
Here in the land of abundant sunshine and good access to affordable seafood, the H1N1 virus also plagues us. Does that disprove the Vitamin D connection?
As reported in my previous post on Vitamin D in 2005 the Medical Journal of Australia published a position statement from a group of Australasian doctors regarding the alarmingly low levels of D in our population. This link outlines many of the reasons why we are so low in the vitamin and the amount of sun exposure, without sunblock, needed to get adequate amounts from this source alone.
Hopefully you’ve been following my cold and flu prevention guidelines and topping up your Vitamin D levels with cod live oil since autumn. If not, it is not too late to start increasing your intake of this vital nutrient – today.
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