Vitamin D – The Miracle Vitamin!

Are You Getting Enough Of The Sunshine Vitamin?

Vitamin D has long been known to have many benefits to staying healthy. Unfortunately, many people don’t get nearly enough of this miracle vitamin in their normal diets. Recently, the Institute of Medicine increased the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D to 600 IU (International Units), though a recent study shows even that may not be enough.

 Vitamin D Deficiencies

Vitamin D deficiencies have been known to lead to any number of adverse effects, including muscle weakness, osteoporosis, common cancers and any number of diseases. The recent study out of the University of Kansas suggests that supplements that provide 1,000 IU of Vitamin D may be needed to avoid these deficiencies.

Their study consisted of over 10,000 participants with an average age of 58.  70% of those participants were found to be Vitamin D deficient. The study also suggested that those who were deficient were at significantly increased risk of cardiovascular-related illnesses, and an astounding 164% higher risk of all-cause mortality.

 Vitamin D Increases Survival Rates

On the flip side of that coin, however, those taking vitamin D supplements were associated with a 61% increase in survival rate in the group of participants. So heed the advice your mother gave you as a child and take your vitamins! They just might help keep you around for a long time to come.