Webber Naturals expert Wendy Tao shares the latest news on the sunshine vitamin!

You might just be surprised at the many benefits of vitamin D...

Draw a line from the northern California border to Boston on the East coast of North America. If you live north of that line — 42-degrees latitude — even if you go outside every day from October to March, you aren't likely to get enough sun exposure to make enough vitamin D.

If you don’t have access to the sun all the time, how can you get your vitamin D without spending huge amounts of money on a sunny, beach-side vacation? You can get additional vitamin D from the foods you eat or from supplements, especially during those winter months.

The importance of vitamin D and the deficiencies related to northern climates are old news. So why has vitamin D been in the limelight for the last few years? Our scientific understanding of how this nutrient works, and what it does have expanded and it certainly does more than prevent rickets (a childhood disease involving soft bones).

Did you know that vitamin D may help combat cancer? Reinhold Vieth, a nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto, proposes that many cells in the body use vitamin D to produce a signaling molecule that improves inter-cellular communication. The signals help a cell determine what part of the body it should become or what function it should have. The signal may also tell cells to stop replicating or proliferating, which is crucial when it comes to cancer cells. 

Not only can vitamin D help signal cancer cells to stop multiplying, studies suggest that it can also help those suffering from Alzheimer’s. A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that vitamin D may activate key genes and cellular signaling networks to stimulate the immune system so it rejects a protein, called amyloid-beta, found in patients with Alzheimer’s.

A Winnipeg doctor, Dr. Taback, made the news this past January taking the study of vitamin D in an exciting new direction. Dr. Taback submitted a proposal seeking $10 million in research funding over the next three years to give babies at high risk of Type 1 diabetes up to 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D as a preventive strategy. He wants to prove that there is a direct relationship between an insufficiency of vitamin D and onset of Type 1 diabetes. Scientists have found that the immune system, and the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas of people with diabetes, have receptors for vitamin D.

Another new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal found that women with painful periods, severe pelvic pain and immobilizing cramps before or during menstruation, suffer much less pain by taking a single mega-dose of vitamin D five days before their next menstrual period. Vitamin D works as an anti-inflammatory to decrease prostaglandin activity that may trigger inflammation and pain during menstruation.

Last but not least, Vitamin D may also help prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing chronic inflammation. It has been shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for heart disease.

So remember: if you can’t see the sun, the sun can’t see you — so supplement with vitamin D , the sunshine vitamin for healthy bones, heart, brain and so much more.

Image Sources: We Heart It and fitnessgurusam.com

References

1. Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease 
2. Boning up on the sunshine vitamin 
3. Can Vitamin D Treat Pain? http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759254
4. Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
   
5. How Much Sun Exposure Do I Need for Vitamin D? 
6. Improvement of Primary Dysmenorrhea Caused by a Single Oral Dose of Vitamin D: Results of a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study
   
7. Type 1 diabetes prevention 'better than cure'
   

Healthy eating habits lead to better sleeping habits, which lead to a healthier, happier, more attractive you.

Not too long ago we investigated if you could potentially Sleep Your Way To Beauty. We discovered via The Huffington Post that people who get more sleep are more attractive compared to when they get less sleep, which resulted in my new number one goal: to get more sleep! But, hey, in today’s hectic society, we’re busy and I’ll be the first to admit that getting more sleep is easier said than done.

Which is why I was happy to come across Fitness magazine's article on how choosing healthier eating habits may help you get a more restful night’s sleep . Eat better, sleep better, look and feel better! Sounds good to me.

Eating well and still having trouble getting to sleep? Fitness magazine recommends Vitamins and Minerals for Great Sleep , including B Vitamins , Calcium, and Zinc.

Image source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2007-11-01/How-to-Get-Better-Sleep.aspx

Health benefits that will have you smiling and saying, “Cheese!”

If you’re anything like me, it’s nearly impossible to say no to a good cheese. Cheddar, Swiss, blue, gouda, brie … the list goes on. Sadly, cheese seems to have a pretty bad rap, health-wise – and that is, mainly, that they’re fattening.

But I have some good news for all you self-professed cheese lovers out there! Here are 3 health benefits (some of which are quite surprising!) of eating cheese:

1. Cheese is good for your teeth and bones – Okay, this one's not that surprising but that doesn’t make it any less true! Cheese is loaded with calcium which helps prevent osteoporosis and promote strong bones.
2. Cheese can help with weight loss! According to the television show, The Doctors, your body is receiving more protein per 1 ounce than in 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish . What does this mean exactly? It means that because there’s more protein in every ounce, you will most likely eat less of it!
   Side Note: I was surprised to learn that softer cheese has less fat than hard cheese, as it’s less concentrated and therefore contains less calories per volume content. I always thought the ooey gooey cheese, like brie, would be more fattening!
3. Cheese also helps lower blood pressure, according to The Doctors.
   

So, to sum up: If you’re passionate about cheese (as many of us are), although it’s probably best to avoided eating a whole brick of cheese, don’t feel guilty about indulging every once and a while!

Not a big fan of cheese? Try one of webber naturals’ calcium suplements for strong bones and teeth!

Image source: http://www.simplyelegantcorp.com/events/say-cheese-canada/