When it comes to diseases that strike fear into modern man (and woman!), those big three names give us the shakes. Still not treatable -- nobody wants them. So if there are things we can do to prevent them...well, that should inspire us! Who would guess that vitamin D is a big player here? But it is. Dr. Oz weighs in with the following advice from the site.
Dr Oz said that by eating healthy foods, you will almost never get enough Vitamin D. You want to have a vitamin D level that is 45 or above, but anything over 32 your body can tolerate. If your vitamin D level is beneath 32, then your body is suffering.
"Dr. Hyman said that if you are African American, you are at an even higher risk of being vitamin D Deficient because dark skin does not make as much vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun. Dr Oz said that if you draw a horizontal line from Atlanta to just North of Los Angeles, anyone who lives to the North of that line does not get enough vitamin D from the sun in winter months.
"Doctor Oz said that vitamin D also helps to prevent Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Dr Oz said that in medical school they were taught that people who live in colder areas are more likely to get MS, and perhaps this is because of their lower levels of vitamin D. Another shocking statistic is that 70% of people who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease also have low vitamin D levels. Dr Mark Hyman said that people with low levels of vitamin D have an increased risk of dementia and Parkinson’s, which are both related to inflammation. Plus, vitamin D is a great brain food and helps more nerves to grow. Dr Oz said that by taking 1 T. of cod liver oil, you can dramatically help your vitamin D levels. Doctor Oz loves the fish-flavored cod liver oil, but most people prefer the lemon-flavored cod liver oil, unless you are really a fan of fishy flavors!"
So, for your convenience, I've put together some of my favorite recommendations. Valley Vet carries cod liver oil and vitamin D as a stand alone supplement. I would recommend Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil or Garden of Life's Cod Liver Oil which is quality too, but at a more economical price. Both of these products are in the Lemon flavor. The labels do not say the amount of D they provide, so you may need even more supplementation.
It's always a good idea to ask your doctor to check your D levels to make sure you have a level of at least 45 like Dr. Oz recommends. Some people can't process their D well, and need to spend extra time in the sun and supplement much higher than the general population. Some people may need to also supplement with Super Daily D 3, along with the fish oil. It has 2000 I.U per drop. Many people need at least 5000 I.U. a day or more.
Finally, since inflammation is a factor in these type of diseases, I would recommend the product Curcumin as it is a powerful product that modulates the body's inflammation response. Our best to you! Ellen