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Friday, May 18, 2007

Vitamin D, tuberculosis and winter ailments

Scientists have shown that a single 2.5mg dose of vitamin D may be enough to boost the immune system to fight against tuberculosis (TB) and similar bacteria for at least 6 weeks. Their findings came from a study that identified an extraordinarily high incidence of vitamin D deficiency amongst those communities in London most at risk from the disease, which kills around two million people each year.

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Gary Moller comments:
The evidence grows daily showing that improving population health first and foremost lies with low cost commonsense and low-tech measures that revolve about lifestyle and nutrition and not big medicine.

Vitamins D, C and A are essential for a robust immune system and for healthy lungs. There is a very good case for everyone to take additional of these vitamins during winter.

The outbreak of rampant TB within a Palmerston Nth college last year was probably not helped by the kids being required to keep out of the sun all year and the low fat diet that ensures that there is deficiency in the fat soluble vitamins minerals that are so essential for immune health. 

Vitamin D deficiency is most likely in dark-skinned immigrant populations that move either from rural areas to cities or from high latitudes to colder lower ones. They are adapted for harsh sun conditions and are therefore at serious risk of vitamin D deficiency when shifting to sunless conditions and also when subjected to crazy "Sun Smart" policies. This is one major factor that explains why just about all health measures for these population groups tends to be very poor, including high rates of tuberculosis.

Free range eggs, grass fed butter, organ meat and raw milk are excellent sources of the fat soluble vitamins. In addition to this, if you and your children are not getting sufficient of these, including up to 2,000mg of vitamin C per day over winter, then you should consider a daily supplement. The best for children is the Floradix Kinderval range of tonics which are also a rich source of minerals. Cod liver oil is a rich source of vitamin D, A and omega 3 which has traditionally been a winter tonic in our family for generations. There is now also a new vitamin D and omega 3 supplement that is available from Thompson's Nutrition (All of these are available from www.myotec.co.nz). Right now, here in New Zealand, vitamin C-rich Kiwi fruit are in season and selling for as low as 99 cents a kilo - yum-yum! I am currently eating 6-10 per day.

Good health may be as simple as eating much more of the forbidden foods (Fatty eggs, whole milk etc), eating more Kiwi Fruit, getting some sun and taking a few nutritional supplements.

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