For the last year, I’ve been researching Vitamin D.

Why?

Because I want to be the best I can be and feeling vibrantly healthy is part of that. Also, I choose to be in charge of creating good health rather than reacting to a health problem, whether that be something small like a cold or flu or a problem of more severe consequence.

What got me started on Vitamin D was last year’s scare about the H1N1 virus. When I read some of the articles on what was in the inoculation,  I decided to increase my general health and vitalize my immune system rather than take something so untested and possibly toxic.

That led me to Vitamin D.

Research is showing that most people living in the norther US and Canada are deficient in Vitamin D, particularly between October and May. Because of rampant fears about skin cancer, however, people are avoiding the sun even in the summer months or wearing sun screen, so Vitamin D deficiency is showing up at all times of the year now.

But sunlight is hugely important for our health. Dr. Mercola, (www.mercola.com) a noted alternative medicine practicioner, says that not only is Vitamin D crucial for avoiding colds and flu, but that a person can decrease the risk of cancer significantly by optimizing vitamin D levels.

Apparently, Vitamin D influences the immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses. With the upcoming months of lessened sunshine ahead and the cold and flu season about to erupt, taking vitamin D may be significant. According to Mercola, it is very rare for someone with optimized vitamin D levels to come down with the flu.

Based on the most recent research, the current recommendation is 35 IU’s of vitamin D per pound of body weight. So for a child weighing 40 pounds, the recommended average dose would be 1,400 IU’s daily, and for a 170-pound adult, the dose would be nearly 6,000 IU’s.

The typical adult dose is 5,000-6,000 units per day. Avoid taking 1,000-2,000 units and thinking you are doing ok. In all likelihood, you’re NOT.

But don’t take my word for it–do your own research. Mercola’s site had some great Vitamin D studies and there are a ton of others on the Internet.

I am NOT recommending that you take Vitamin D–that’s up to you. But what I am recommending is that you take charge of your own health! That’s a powerful thing to do! Part of being YOUR personal best!