Everyone's body and need for vitamin D is different and levels should be tested. I take 5,000 IU daily and 50,000 IU once a week. The nutritionist at our clinic said that the optimal level of D is 55-70 ng/ml. Even with the supplements I take, I have not been able to reach the optimal level of D.
How low is your vitamin D when tested? When I started I was down around 25 ng/mL. If I were you I would double the daily dose to 10,000 IU until you reach 60 - 70 ng/mL. I went to 110 ng/mL and then backed down to 5,000 IU every day and it didn't hurt me any that I can see. To do that I alternated with 10,000 IU of D3 for two day and 50,000 IU for the following two days and did that over and over for a few weeks. You might not want to go that high or that fast...I'm just saying how I did it. I suspect that I may need to increase mine to 10,000 IU occasionally due to my medical condition but will test first to make sure.
I've been reading here at Nat Med for a while, as well as doing my own research and visiting with a friend who owns a health food store. I appreciate all of the insight I've gained - I feel good about helping myself and my family become healthier and get our bodies ready for whatever may come - BUT....
I feel like we are taking sooo much now. I haven't added in every supplement and remedy I've heard about, but I have added a few more things to our daily intake. Here is what we're taking right now -
*MultiV
*Vit. C
*Vit. D3
*A mix of Elderberry, Echinacea and Agaricus
*Elderberry syrup
*Zinc
*NAC
*Probiotic
*Homeopathic cold and flu defense (twice a week)
The kids are getting -
*MultiV
*Vit. C
*Vit. D3
*Immune Defense containing Vits A, C, B6 and zinc
*Elderberry syrup
*Probiotic
*Homeopathic cold and flu defense (twice a week) *PLUS* - now I'm thinking I should add Turmeric because it may help prevent a Cytokine Storm - what do guys think?
When I look back over that list, I just do not feel good about it! It seems like too much. What do you guys think? What could I take out and still be effective? Should I add in the Turmeric?
Thanks so much in advance!
I think Tumeric is good but I add it to foods like rice when I fix it,
so I don't get it every day. I do think Vit C, D3, a good mix of the
B vits plus minerals are important. Personally, I add extra magnesium
and potassium, plus Resveratrol and Iodine for myself.
I think you have to go by whatever health issues you have. If you
have none, like your children for example, then you can go by how well
they eat veggies and fruits, etc. And go from there.
As a diabetic, I also take nutrients for neuropathy amd diabetes. I also
eat lots of fresh garlic and onions which I find helps me to ward off colds
and flus, as well as all the other thing they're good for.
But everyone is different and has different needs.
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A lot of multi-vitamins don't put much in the way of minerals. Magnesium, calcium and potassium are very important...but it's best to get potassium in food because the FDA limits it to 2% of our daily needs in each dose...hardly worth mention on the bottle.
I think the most important thing that you have on your list is probiotic. It would help if you add prebiotics as well. Something for the flora to eat. They need nutrition as well. That would be rice bran, oat bran, wheat bran, FOS, and generally just fiber. You can get all this prebiotic in your diet without providing supplements. Fiber is important. I don't like psylium; because it can cause bloating. If you can keep your prebiotic population healthy, you won't have to worry about so many other health problems.
I like turmeric; but don't think it is a daily essential. I only take it when I have problems that it addresses. Those are numerous; but I only have a few occasional ones.
There is a new, to America at least, probiotic that I like. Yakult. I've seen a few TV commercials; and have found it at Wal-mart in their grocery section for 87 cents for 5 little bottles. It's in the yogurt section. It has an interesting story behind it. Look it up in your favorite search engine. Each bottle has about 3 swallows. It's a little sweet for me; but I haven't found the Yakult Lite. One a day. The children will like it.
I think Tumeric is good but I add it to foods like rice when I fix it,
so I don't get it every day. I do think Vit C, D3, a good mix of the
B vits plus minerals are important. Personally, I add extra magnesium
and potassium, plus Resveratrol and Iodine for myself.
I think you have to go by whatever health issues you have. If you
have none, like your children for example, then you can go by how well
they eat veggies and fruits, etc. And go from there.
As a diabetic, I also take nutrients for neuropathy amd diabetes. I also
eat lots of fresh garlic and onions which I find helps me to ward off colds
and flus, as well as all the other thing they're good for.
But everyone is different and has different needs.
Thanks for that idea - it is delicious in rice!
We are all healthy - I'm just trying to vamp up our immune systems because we live in an area where the flu is spreading quickly. My son has asthma so I'm taking these extra precautions.
A lot of multi-vitamins don't put much in the way of minerals. Magnesium, calcium and potassium are very important...but it's best to get potassium in food because the FDA limits it to 2% of our daily needs in each dose...hardly worth mention on the bottle.
OK, thanks - I need to look into some other foods that have a good amount of potassium.
I think the most important thing that you have on your list is probiotic. It would help if you add prebiotics as well. Something for the flora to eat. They need nutrition as well. That would be rice bran, oat bran, wheat bran, FOS, and generally just fiber. You can get all this prebiotic in your diet without providing supplements. Fiber is important. I don't like psylium; because it can cause bloating. If you can keep your prebiotic population healthy, you won't have to worry about so many other health problems.
I like turmeric; but don't think it is a daily essential. I only take it when I have problems that it addresses. Those are numerous; but I only have a few occasional ones.
There is a new, to America at least, probiotic that I like. Yakult. I've seen a few TV commercials; and have found it at Wal-mart in their grocery section for 87 cents for 5 little bottles. It's in the yogurt section. It has an interesting story behind it. Look it up in your favorite search engine. Each bottle has about 3 swallows. It's a little sweet for me; but I haven't found the Yakult Lite. One a day. The children will like it.
Yes - I agree - I'm so glad we've started using it - I'm sure it will just be part of our normal routine now. I definitely need to get some more fiber in our diets. I know I don't get enough and the kids could probably stand to have more as well. Thanks for the tip on Yakult. I'll look into it.
Quick question for you - we are somewhat new to taking D3 - My husband and I are taking 4,000 IU and I have the kids on 1,000 IU. (They are 4 and 6) Do you know what a safe dose would be for me to give them - I know I probably need to build their levels up some but I don't want to overdo it. Thanks!
To be honest, I personally wouldn't have given 1000IUs of Vitamin D3 to either of my children when they were 4 & 6 years old. The reason being is they receive their intake via daily sun exposure as my kids only came inside to have meals & use the potty.lol Though if you're in a northern climate...........
Another thing to consider is that Vitamin D is more like a hormone than a nutritional supplement so how do we judge what is or is not a safe amount for a child since each dose gradually stores up in fat and is not excreted like water soluble vitamins? When does calcium blood levels begin to elevate causing bone loss? It's just still too iffy for me...but i tend to be conservative by nature.
Suppose you could watch for symptoms that they may be receiving too much; emotional would be irritability and nervousness. Physical; tired, headaches, thirst, appetite decreases, nausea, itchy skin.
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The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease
~Voltaire~
To be honest, I personally wouldn't have given 1000IUs of Vitamin D3 to either of my children when they were 4 & 6 years old. The reason being is they receive their intake via daily sun exposure as my kids only came inside to have meals & use the potty.lol Though if you're in a northern climate...........
Another thing to consider is that Vitamin D is more like a hormone than a nutritional supplement so how do we judge what is or is not a safe amount for a child since each dose gradually stores up in fat and is not excreted like water soluble vitamins? When does calcium blood levels begin to elevate causing bone loss? It's just still too iffy for me...but i tend to be conservative by nature.
Suppose you could watch for symptoms that they may be receiving too much; emotional would be irritability and nervousness. Physical; tired, headaches, thirst, appetite decreases, nausea, itchy skin.
Good to know - so what do you think would be a reasonable dose?
I ask because they get 200IU from their multi v, 200IU from the probiotic/colostrum, and then the Animal Parade VD3 supplement that I got them is 500IU - so I guess they are taking about 900IU right now.
Maybe the Vitamin D supplement is too much? Maybe I should cut it in half?
We live in TX so they are in the sun a fair amount - especially these days because the flu in our area is spreading like wildfire. We're staying home, and playing in the back yard, riding bikes, etc. instead of the usual park playground, Chick-fil-a, museum, etc.
From Alternatives Newsletter (Dr. David Williams) current issue which I received today:
"---adults should be taking roughly 4,000 to 5,000 IU a day and children 1,000 IU per every 25 pounds of body weight.
"Additionally, if you contract the flu, vitamin D at higher doses can be used therapeutically at a dosage of 1,000 IU per pound of body weight per day for a week. For example, if you weigh 170 pounds, you would take 170,000 IU of vitamin D daily for a week. (I realize that this is much higher than the amount I recommended just this past spring. The more I know about vitamin D, the more I'm convinced that very high levels are necessary in the face of an acute illness.)"
My latest Oct issue of Dr Wms health letter says every adult should take at
least 5000iu of Vit D3 and children should take 1000iu per 25 pounds of
body weight on a daily basis. And IF one contracts the flu, higher doses
- double this - are reco'ed for at least a week. I guess this could apply
if one has been around others who have the flu too.
This is what Dr Wms is doing with his own family. He considers Vit D very
important in overall immune health.
Information can be found at www.vitamincouncil.org on the role Vit D3
plays in Influenza epidemics.
From Alternatives Newsletter (Dr. David Williams) current issue which I received today:
"---adults should be taking roughly 4,000 to 5,000 IU a day and children 1,000 IU per every 25 pounds of body weight.
"Additionally, if you contract the flu, vitamin D at higher doses can be used therapeutically at a dosage of 1,000 IU per pound of body weight per day for a week. For example, if you weigh 170 pounds, you would take 170,000 IU of vitamin D daily for a week. (I realize that this is much higher than the amount I recommended just this past spring. The more I know about vitamin D, the more I'm convinced that very high levels are necessary in the face of an acute illness.)"
Vit D3
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