Tag Archives: Vitamin D

The Sunshine Vitamin By Abbigail Langstone – Wring

Posted on by

A  COMPLEMENTARY  PRACTICE

with Abbigail  Langstone – Wring. BSc  SBRCP  MAR.

THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN.
Why is it that people feel happier and appear healthier in the summer ?

Could it be due to the fact that people feel more physically able to get outdoors in the fresh air when the weather is more clement and the days are longer ? Could it be the infectious high spirits of involving oneself in events such as Glastonbury, Ascot or Wimbledon ? ( to avoid raising blood pressure I have omitted football or politics) OR Could it be due to an unconscious change in diet. Common sense supported by evidence shows us that people are more likely to eat differently in the summer months. Replacing a “winter warmers” recipe with lighter salads, increasing fish consumption veering more towards a “mediterranean diet”
Linking all of my thoughts above, I would like to tentatively suggest that the singular most likely answer to the question posed is sunlight.( Not rocket science really )

 

 

I have previously written about SAD ( seasonal affected disorder) and how research has proved the negative impact of deprivation of daylight on mood. As a holistic practitioner I believe that emotional wellbeing has a positive effect on physical health. Therefore improving mood is going to improve energy and motivate us into action, creating a cycle of general wellbeing
To support and enable healthy functioning of our mind and body we require a balanced diet that contains a full range of vitamins and minerals. As we age are digestive systems can become less effective at producing enzymes needed to aid digestion, especially if other health issues exist. This may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

 

 

One vitamin that has caused a flurry of media interest in recent research is Vitamin D.A  BMJ clinical review (2010) found that 50% of the adult population have insufficient levels of vitamin D and that 16% have severe deficiency during winter and spring. Vitamin D deficiency is characterized by an inability to calcify the bone matrix (Osteomalacia) Resulting in softening of the skull bones, bowing of legs, spinal curvature and increased joint size. Once common these diseases are now rare. Although according to recent press information the diagnosis of rickets in children within certain communities in the UK is on the increase. More generally recognised is the rise in tooth decay in children and osteoporosis in adults. Once thought as only affecting females, osteoporosis can in fact affect both genders. Vitamin D deficiency ( NHS Choices ) may also increase the risk of developing heart disease, bowel cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, MS and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. People who are at a greater risk of developing Vitamin D deficiency fall into the older age group, but also individuals who have limited access to sunlight e.g. night workers and people living in highly polluted areas.

There are two types of vitamin D. D2 is made by plants and D3 is created by the action of sunlight on the skin. As we age we become less able to synthesize Vitamin D.The process of synthesizing Vitamin Dis complex, involving the skin, liver, kidney and intestines. In the skin, sunlight changes the precursor of Vitamin D into vitamin D3. It is then transported to the liver and converted by an enzyme into a substance five times more potent than D3. This in turn is then converted by an enzyme in the kidneys into the most potent form of vitamin D3. This simplified illustration highlights the vital role that the liver, kidney and intestines have in the process. Therefore any disorders of these organs will inhibit the process.Resulting in a deficiency of Vitamin D.

Poor diet has of course a role in any disease development and surprisingly, malnutrition is an issue of rising concern in the very young and elderly. Natural sources of vitamin D include cod-liver oil, cold water fish such as mackerel, salmon and herring. Egg yolks. Vegetables are low in vitamin D, but best sources include dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin D is best known for it’s ability to stimulate the absorption of calcium. It is added to milk and other foods, such as breakfast cereals.

Note of caution. Vitamin D has the greatest potential to cause toxicity in comparison to other fat soluble vitamins.

For more information on how nutrition may play a role in your personal health & wellbeing, consider a peek into my “Holistic Health Tips” book. £9.00 incl P+P available from Buena Vista, Gypsy Lane. Weymouth DT4 0BZ. Tel 01305784986.

 

 

New Research Shows The Benefits of Vitamin D Supplementation And Heart Health

Posted on by

As our summer lurches from cloud to cloud, this latest information from HSIs (The Health Supplements Information Service, an independent body) is interesting:

 

Taking a vitamin D supplement may improve heart function in people with chronic heart failure according to a paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the American College of Cardiology in Chicago on April 4.

Commenting on the trial, Dr Emma Derbyshire a public health nutritionist for the Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS) noted: “This was a randomised double blind controlled trial in 223 people with chronic heart failure due to secondary left ventricular systolic dysfunction of the heart and also vitamin D deficiency.

“Trial participants were either allocated to one year of high dose vitamin D3 supplementation 4000 IU (100 micrograms daily) or a placebo. Measures made included the change in left ventricular function and the ability to do a test walk.

“Vitamin D supplementation restored normal levels of vitamin D in these people and left ventricular heart function was also better in the vitamin D supplemented group than placebo. There were no changes on the walking test with vitamin D.

“These findings are very encouraging as chronic heart failure is increasing and treatments can be expensive. Many people in the UK have very low levels of vitamin D. In fact average vitamin D intakes in the UK are between 2.3 and 5.1 micrograms daily which is not enough to protect against deficiency.
“A previous modelling exercise found that more than 8 micrograms would be needed daily to ensure a normal vitamin D status in most people. In addition, while the best source of vitamin D is sunlight, the Northerly latitude of the UK means that we lack the right form of sunlight for more than half of the year”.
The Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS) (www.hsis.org.uk; Tel: 020 7052 8955) is an independent information body, set up to provide balanced information on vitamins and minerals. It is supported by a restricted educational grant from the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB).

 

 

UK Under-5s At Risk Of Becoming Generation D-

Posted on by

mapRecent findings reveal six in ten (60%) UK parents are unconcerned about the risk of insufficient vitamin D levels in their child. The new findings have raised concerns among health experts, who fear the UK’s under-5s may be missing out on the essential vitamin, due to a lack of awareness of its benefits and the potential health risks associated with vitamin D deficiency.

 

Parents in the dark about vitamin D

 

The Generation D- report, commissioned by new public health awareness campaign Vitamin D Mission, reveals that despite its importance for childhood development, parents are not fully informed when it comes to their child’s need for this important vitamin.

 

A cause for concern is that despite its crucial role in ensuring the healthy growth and development of children’s bones and teeth, more than three quarters of parents (77%) are unaware of their child’s daily dietary requirement of vitamin D, with more than a third (35%) stating they have never received information about their child’s specific needs.

 

All children living in the UK are at risk of not getting enough vitamin D, with research revealing the average toddler is only getting 27% of the daily dietary vitamin D they need[1]. However, a lack of education about the risks associated with vitamin D deficiency means a fifth of parents (20%) remain unaware that under-5s rank among the most at risk of low levels of vitamin D (See appendix 1).

 

Parents in the UK are largely oblivious of the major health issues associated with low levels of vitamin D, with many unaware of the potential link to multiple sclerosis (95% unaware), osteoporosis (91% unaware), diabetes (95% unaware) and rickets (62% unaware). Furthermore, studies have also shown deficiency can cause poor growth in children and heart muscle disease and hypocalcaemic seizures in infants[2], as well as muscle weakness at any age.

 

The survey found that, despite a recent rise in cases of rickets in the UK, parents ranked low levels of vitamin D among the least worrying issues when it came to their child’s health. Meningitis topped the poll when touching on matters of most concern, with common child illnesses and conditions, such as flu and asthma, ranking higher than insufficient levels of vitamin D (see appendix 2).

 

Clinical consultant for the Vitamin D Mission and paediatrician, Dr Benjamin Jacobs, comments: “As a paediatrician at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, I see first-hand the health impacts of low levels of vitamin D in children living in the UK. From poor growth, soft bones and seizures, to heart disease and rickets, not getting enough vitamin D can result in a range of serious health issues in children and adults.

 

“Many parents are still not getting the message about this vitamin and its importance for child health so children are missing out on the vitamin D they need for healthy growth and development.”

 

Fortification and supplementation

 

The Generation D- report found that despite government recommendations, only one in seven (16%) parents provides their child with a daily vitamin D supplement, with three in five (60%) admitting they never give their child vitamin supplements at all.

 

Younger parents, aged eighteen to twenty-four, were found to be most likely to give their child cod liver oil or a vitamin supplement (47%) compared to just over a third of parents (35%) aged thirty-five plus.

 

Family GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, comments: “Labels like Generation Z and Alpha have been thrown around, but as this report reveals, the next generation is, in fact, set to be Generation D-.

 

“With parents lacking awareness of the vitamin’s role and therefore the need for supplementation, the UK’s under-5s are at risk of being vitamin D deficient. The Vitamin D Mission aims to raise awareness of this issue and end deficiency in our nation’s children, once and for all, to help ensure our kids grow up healthy and strong.”

 

Diet without the D

 

Worryingly, all children in the UK are at risk of not getting the vitamin D they need to support their growth and development, with findings from the report revealing over a third of parents (35%) are not aware their child needs a daily dietary source of vitamin D.

 

This is reflected in mealtime offerings, with the most popular kid’s meals containing next to no dietary vitamin D. Of the top seven meals, which includes firm favourites such as spaghetti bolognese (46%) and fish fingers (43%), only one was found to add to a child’s diet with vitamin D; scrambled eggs (41%) (See appendix 3).

 

One in five parents (22%) believe they meet their child’s specific vitamin D requirements through a healthy balanced diet. However, while the intention is good, the report reveals mums and dads are not always informed which foods contain vitamin D. A fifth of parents incorrectly think oranges (20%) and carrots (18%) contain the essential vitamin, with more than one in ten (11%) mistakenly saying cows’ milk is a source of vitamin D.

 

Furthermore, the survey also reveals that a quarter of under-5s (26%) are fed oily fish once a month or less, with one in seven (15%) never being fed this rich source of vitamin D. Half of parents (50%) have never fed their child liver, another good source of the vitamin.

 

The Generation D- report has been released to support the launch of the Vitamin D Mission, a campaign that aims to eradicate vitamin D deficiency in UK under-5s. As part of the campaign, the Mission has launched an online test which allows parents to estimate how much vitamin D their child is getting as well as offering helpful tips and hints on how they can include more sources of vitamin D in their child’s diet. For more information visit VitaminDMission.co.uk

Reasons Under-5s are at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency

1) The Sun In the UK, our skin isn’t able to make vitamin D from winter sunlight (November to March) as the sunlight hasn’t got enough UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation. 

In the summertime, children are outside less and when they are playing outdoors many parents are concerned about sun safety, therefore putting lots of sunscreen on them, which makes it even harder to synthesise vitamin D. Just ten to fifteen minutes without sunscreen during the summer months (April to October) can help provide a child with the vitamin D they need.
2) Food Not all children receive a varied diet and foods rich in vitamin D, such as oily fish.
3) Supplementation Low uptake of vitamin D supplementation is also a factor. In fact, a report from the Vitamin D Mission reveals less than one in five (16%) parents provide their child with a daily vitamin D supplement.

 

Appendix 2: Health Issues of Most Concern to Parents

Rank(1=most important) Health concern
1 Meningitis
2 Obesity
3 Childhood diabetes
4 Childhood cancer e.g. skin cancer
5 Whooping cough
6 Flu
7 Asthma
8 Low or insufficient levels of vitamin D
9 Getting their five-a-day
10 Allergies

 

 

Appendix 3: Top seven meals served to UK children

Rank Meal %
1 Spaghetti bolognese 46
2 Fish fingers 43
3 Scrambled eggs 41
4 Pasta with sauce 36
5 Roast Dinners 32
6 Baked beans on toast 32
7 Chicken nuggets and chips 29

First-ever anti-ageing supplement range launches at Harrods

Posted on by

  BOXHollywood comes to Harrods

First-ever anti-ageing supplement range launches at Harrods

California’s favourite supplement brand, Nature’s Plus, is launching a groundbreaking new range of anti-ageing supplements to help promote the youthful vitality of Harrods’ finest.

The Nature’s Plus AgeLoss range is an entirely new approach to promoting good health, it works to counteract harmful free radicals that can lead to inflammation whilst also giving the body a healthy boost.

Step 1
With Vitamin D for healthy immune function1, antioxidant vitamins and minerals* and organic whole foods, Nature’s Plus AgeLoss First Day provides unparalleled nutritional activity.

Step 2
AgeLoss Women’s Multi features a vibrant offering of botanicals and amino acids to support a woman’s quality of life, it is the first-ever women’s multivitamin enhanced to promote youthful, restorative wellness in the female body’s organs and systems via specialised antioxidant nutrition.2

Step 3
Customise your quality-of-life programme by selecting the individual formulas in the AgeLoss range most appropriate for the bodily systems you wish to address. Each product employs specialised antioxidant blends, each designed to uniquely address the free radicals of specific tissues or systems.

·      Promote a healthy digestive system with Digestion Support†
·      Uplift your energy levels with Energy Support†
·      Take care of your eyesight with Eye Support†
·      Maintain your joint health with Joint Support†
·      Feel on top form with Immune Support†
·      Promote a radiant skin with Skin Support†

Maintaining good health is now just as easy as picking a new dress.

 

• Nature’s Plus AgeLoss range is available at Harrods
• AgeLoss Women’s Multi £28.45 (for 60 tablets)
• AgeLoss First Day £47.45 (for 90 tablets)

Frost Loves…Modern Milk

Posted on by

Modern Milk is smooth, creamy and delicious. Very natural and healthy. It is exactly what the names says, it is a better version of milk

Modern Milk comes in four flavours Smooth Coffee with a hint of Vanilla, Milk Chocolate with a hint of golden Caramel, Lush Banana and Honey and Ripe Strawberry and Raspberry. My favourite is a toss up between the Milk Chocolate and the Ripe Strawberry and Raspberry.

The Milk Chocolate is great if you are trying to diet, you can just have one of these instead of a chocolate bar. It takes the edge of and it has a hint of caramel. It’s rich but not too rich.

None of the drinks have a horrible aftertaste and after drinking Modern Milk I felt a lot healthier. They are like a snack all in one. The ultimate in a health drink.

The design is really good, they all have a different cow cartoon on them, and they all have ‘think differently’ written on them backwards. The way they open is cool too.

Frost loves Modern Milk.

Modern Milk is a delicious low fat dairy drink that has been created to get people excited about drinking milk again and encourage them to include it in their weekly diet to keep them healthier.

Many adults are not drinking enough milk and this can have an effect on health issues such as osteoporosis, obesity and tooth decay. Modern Milk contains extra calcium, added vitamin D and fibre and with these added health benefits can help to show that what makes you feel good on the inside, can also help make you look good on the outside.

Research confirms that vitamin D makes our bodies to absorb calcium. Lack of calcium  makes our bodies to increase the production of
synthase, a fatty acid enzyme that coverts calories into fat. Consequently the higher levels of vitamin D in the blood, the easier it is to lose weight.

Milk is an important source of nutrients for many age groups and can help your body operate properly; calcium – for strong bones,
carbohydrates – for energy, protein – for growth and healing processes. When hunger pangs strike, Modern Milk can help fill you up for longer so that you don’t snack. The calcium can also have a positive effect on your nails, teeth and hair playing a part in your weekly beauty regime.
 
TV’s Dr Hilary Jones endorses Modern Milk as a great low-fat, after-workout drink. He says milk is the nearest thing you can find to a totally complete food containing, as it does, a perfect balance of protein, minerals, vitamins, essential fats and carbohydrates.

Modern Milk is currently sold in Tesco Extra for just 0.99p and comes in four delicious flavours – Smooth Coffee with a hint of Vanilla, Milk Chocolate with a hint of golden Caramel, Lush Banana and Honey and Ripe Strawberry and Raspberry.
 

Frost's Winter Health Challenge

Posted on by

Winter can be hard on health and beauty. Skin tends to dry out and constant flues and colds are abound.

Frost has tested some health products to help you survive winter as well as possible.

Moa – The Green Balm is a wonder balm that you can use for anything from dry or chapped hands, to bites and bruises, lip salve, blemishes and can mixed with hot water as a sore throat-soothing drink. It smells good and has a good consistency. It works very well as a moisturiser and is a great thing to have around the house. It really is a do-it-all balm, and it is completely natural. I really liked it and I used it as a lip balm and on my hands. (£4.99 from all good health stores or www.thegreenbalm.co.uk)

Eating well in winter can be hard. The temptation to eat stodgy food and hibernate can be strong, and, lack of sun means that you won’t be getting enough Vitamin D. I started taking 5 Lifestream Chorella tablets a day and felt that I had a lot more energy. My skin looks nice and bright and my hair looks good. I go up to 10 a day and I even lose a few pounds. I feel like I’m been given a good health boost. Chlorella is filled with the immune-boosting vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. Lifestream Chlorella (£15.29 for 300 tablets from all good health stores or www.grumpygorilla.co.uk). Renowned as nature’s won multivitamin, chlorella is packed with more than 20 vitamins, minerals and amino acids and vitamin D.

Those suffering with seasonal joint pain or arthritis could benefit from a daily dose of apple cider vinegar and honey such as Honegar (£4.69 for 500ml from Holland & Barrett and all good health food stores) mixed with warm or cold water. Ranulph Fiennes is a fan. I start drinking it and although I don’t have arthritis I find I feel more cleansed and have more energy. I also have not had a cold or any flu. It doesn’t taste bad either.

I also try out Plj Lemon Juice. It is nice as a refreshing drink, as an ingredient when cooking or mixed with Manuka honey and warm water to soothe and calm an inflamed throat. It is a good thing to drink if you are trying to detox, not only does it cleanse but it is quite sweet so can take the edge off any cravings.

PLj Lemon Juice (£2.29 from Tesco, Sainsbury’s and all good health food stores)

All of the products I decided to try are natural and as green as possible.

What do you do to help you get through the winter?

BRITISH TODDLERS AT RISK OF NOT GETTING ENOUGH VITAMIN D THIS WINTER

Posted on by

SHORTER WINTER days mean Britain’s toddlers risk not getting enough vitamin D, a vitamin needed for the growth and development of their bones, it is warned today by growingupmilkinfo.com.

A new survey reveals nearly eight out of 10 parents are not aware of toddlers’ specific nutritional needs and 74 per cent of British toddlers do not receive the vitamin supplements recommended by the UK Departments of Health for under-fives[1],[2]. Specifically, 9 out of 10 toddlers are failing to meet their recommended daily vitamin D reference nutrient intake3.

As the clocks go back and sunlight hours fall by up to half it becomes harder to get ‘The Sunshine Vitamin’ from sunlight alone. British children’s vitamin D-poor diets3 combined with low uptake of supplementation and a lack of knowledge amongst parents about their specific nutritional needs, mean toddlers could be missing out.

The research from growingupmilkinfo.com points towards the risk being highest in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds and Sheffield, where vitamin supplement uptake is lowest[1], as is exposure to vitamin D-producing UVB sunlight. Toddlers of African-Caribbean and South Asian heritage are also at increased risk, as their skins’ increased melanin level means they are less able to produce vitamin D through exposure to sunlight4.

Shorter winter days

Vitamin D is made by the body on exposure to sunlight. In British wintertime, the number of daily sunshine hours drops by as much as half in some areas, especially in the north of the country, and the angle of the sun changes making it much more difficult for the body to make vitamin D.

Lack of knowledge for parents

Nearly eight out of 10 British parents are unaware that toddlers have specific nutritional needs and over half (54 per cent) say they never, rarely or occasionally consider a toddler’s specific nutritional requirements[1].

Nearly three-quarters of mums say they don’t give their toddler the vitamin supplements recommended by the UK Departments of Health. The Departments of Health recommend that ALL toddlers receive a daily supplement of vitamins A, C and D2.

Poor dietary uptake

The best source of vitamin D comes from UV light exposure. However in countries like the UK, where sunlight is limited, it is essential that toddlers also eat vitamin D rich foods. However, it can be hard to get toddlers to eat vitamin D rich foods – for example Government statistics show that the average consumption of oily fish is well below the recommendation5.

Simple steps parents can take to ensure toddlers are meeting their vitamin D needs include:

· Exposure to the summer (April-Oct) sun (without sunscreen) for 10 minutes a few times a week is enough for most people to produce vitamin D and store it for winter. However, some groups may not be able to get enough vitamin D exposure in this way. These groups include young children, those living north of Birmingham in the UK (due to the angle of the sun) and those of African-Caribbean and South Asian origin

· Take a daily children’s supplement of vitamins A, C and D

· Giving 2 x 150ml beakers of Growing Up Milk daily as part of a healthy balanced diet provides more than half a toddler’s daily recommended nutrient intake of vitamin D

· Include sources of vitamin D in the diet. Good sources include: fortified margarines and breakfast cereals, egg yolks, liver and oily fish

Gwyneth Paltrow prescribed sunshine {Health}

Posted on by

She might be an A-List celeb and the role model for pale and interesting skin types the world over but actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been told to spend some time in the sun.

She revealed, in her newsletter GOOP, that a bone scan showed she had the begginning stages of Osteopenia and a test revealed her Vitamin D levels to be startlingly low. Some people are blaming her frequent detoxes and preference for vegan food but her blog has lots of yummy recepies, how is she not hungry all the time when writing about food?

Her Doctor, Dr. Frank Lipman, goes on to talk about the benefits of sunshine and Vitamin D.

Frank says “Although irresponsible sunbathing is unquestionably harmful and precautions need to be taken, regular, moderate, unprotected sun exposure is essential for good health. It is free, easy to get and good for you when used intelligently.”

Picture from Iron Man 2 [Product Page]