Do we ever stop learning from our mothers? When I was small my mother taught me that if I bring a pony inside the house she will scream, the pony will get scared, and things will get broken. She also taught me the importance of telling the truth and being honest. My mom used to tell me, “Always be nice to everyone. You never know who you may have to ask for a drink of water.” My mom will tell you that I would never eat anything or try anything new unless she tried it first. I outgrew some of my insecurities. Recently, in the name of science I decided to turn my mom into a guinea pig in hopes of having a healthier and stronger mom to continue learning from in the years to come.
For several months, I have been researching vitamin D in order to bring some clarity on the subject to you. According to multiple studies, it is clear that the FDA’s recommended dosage of 400 IU’s of vitamin D per day is nowhere near enough to promote good health. A Harvard School of Public Health study showed that men who where deficient in vitamin D were twice as likely to have a heart attack as men with adequate levels. Vitamin D also helps regulate cellular function which could affect the body’s immune system by helping prevent some cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis. This is in no way anywhere near a complete list of the research being done and the benefits of vitamin D.
This semester in school I have been studying with a doctor who educates every single one of his patients regarding the benefits of vitamin D and flax seed. The more I observed him the more I thought of my own mom who has been complaining of being tired but who is otherwise in good health. I decided to take her to her primary healthcare provider to get a baseline vitamin D blood level drawn and to get his blessings on the experiment. I strongly recommend that before starting any over the counter medication or supplement you discuss it with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
At the same time we wisely protect ourselves from the ill effects of the sun, we must also realize that we are robbing ourselves of much needed vitamin D. The flu, the common cold and other illnesses are more prevalent in months when the days are shorter. This leads me to think that adequate levels of vitamin D might protect us from many illnesses. In the months to come, I will revisit the vitamin D topic and report the results of our experiment.
I started my guinea pig mother on 2,000 IU’s of vitamin D3 every day and will recheck the blood levels in a few months to see how they have changed and discuss how she is feeling. My mom told her doctor that from now on whenever she is asked how she is feeling she will always smile and say, “I feel great!” She fears any other answer will result in me dragging her to the doctor’s office for more lab work. I guess I am living proof and bring new meaning to the saying “once a man, twice a child.” I am a firm believer that no matter what our age we should never stop learning from our parents.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com
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