The other day while visiting a family member she told me that the doctor had told her that one of her tests he had taken showed  that her vitamin D levels were extremely low.  I had just recently been reading about how important a role this nutrient plays in our health so was very concerned.

This deficiency can lead to not only bone loss, but other serious health conditions such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, depression, and some autoimmune disorders.  Even MS has been linked to a lack of Vitamin D.

It takes about  15 minutes of exposure to sunlight on your hands and face  for your body to make enough vitamin D under normal circumstances.   Pulling ourselves away from the computer, workplace, tv, etc. to get that brief exposure can make a tremendous difference.  Sunscreens that we apply daily to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays can also prevent enough exposure as well as protective clothing.    If we reside up north or way down south we may need to spend a little more time outside.

Foods which contain vitamin D include salmon, sardines, shrimp, milk, cod, and eggs. Among salmon, wild-caught fish have been shown to average significantly more vitamin D than non-organically farmed fish.   Supplements can also be taken.  It is the overwhelming consensus of researchers that D3 is our best bet when supplementing with vitamin D.   (For more information about how to obtain such a supplement,  contact me here).

For an excellent discussion about what this valuable nutrient can do for you, check out this site.  I was amazed to learn how linked this vitamin is to so many of the health issues we are dealing with today.  Have you had your vitamin D levels checked recently?

I often catch myself pondering about the subject of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease whenever I misplace my keys again, or so often find myself walking into a room and then wondering for what purpose was I there.  I know I am not alone with this fear.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s report,  “2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures”, 5.3 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.   The data examined covered the years 2000 to 2006 and found that deaths from Alzheimer’s increased by 46% compared with heart disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer deaths, all which have decreased in their numbers.

Another disturbing fact from this report discovered that African Americans are almost twice as likely as whites to have Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and Hispanics are about one and a half times more likely to be stricken with it.

So what do we do with this new information? Alzheimer’s expert, Steven DeKosky, Senior Vice President and Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, gives us the following preventative tips to reduce the risk of developing dementia:

1. Exercise…I am working on developing that habit now!
2. Watch our lipids (cholesterol), blood pressure and abdominal girth…hopefully my success with CINCH is helping with that abdominal girth!
3. Exercise our brain by staying active (challenge yourself with puzzles, etc.) Just being on the internet daily seems to be exercising my brain quite a bit!

Another good reason to watch our weight is the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, two diseases that are increasing at an alarming rate within the U.S.   Diabetic patients have a 30% to 65% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease compared to the non-diabetic individual.

So, according to the Alzheimer’s Association,  if we are forgetting recently learned material, have problems staying organized (that one scares me!) losing track of steps in making a call or playing a game, forgetting simple words more often, putting a watch in the sugar bowl (??) and paying bills twice or not at all…..perhaps we need to realize these are not normal behaviors and may be a cause for concern.   But not to worry if we are just misplacing the keys.  (Well, that’s a relief!)