Worried About Catching the Flu? Catch a Few Rays Instead!

In his widely read Vitamin D Newsletter www.vitamindcouncil.com, Dr. John Cannell, MD presents impressive evidence regarding how influenza and even the common cold could be prevented if a person has adequate levels of vitamin D in his or her system through the winter months.

It makes complete sense if you think about it. Dr. Cannell writes that the flu and cold season occurs during the dark winter months when our vitamin D levels are lowest, flu then disappears in the summer. Dr. Cannell also points out that influenza is more common in the tropics during the rainy season when there is far less sun and that children who play outside are less likely to get colds and flu.

But nothing is ever easy. If you live in latitudes any further north than 35 degrees (that is around the middle of Tennessee), you will have difficulty getting enough sun to stay healthy after the beginning of October. So the challenge we face is deciding how best to make sure we have adequate levels of vitamin D once the summer sun is a fading memory.

One way is supplements and a diet that includes wild seafood and vitamin D fortified foods. But supplements can be expensive and you have to eat a lot off salmon and drink a lot of vitamin D fortified milk and orange juice to hit the recommended levels.

Alternatively, you can take the advice of the world’s foremost expert on vitamin D, Dr. Michael Holick, who says in his book the UV Advantage: “If you don’t have the opportunity to go out in the sun or prefer a more private and controlled environment, indoor tanning facilities represent a viable alternative to natural sunlight.” Just remember, don’t over-exposure yourself and don’t ever burn!