By now we have all set our resolutions, succeeded in some and no doubt, failed in some.  I’ve decided to look at resolutions from another perspective.  Why do we wait until the New Year to start something that is going to benefit us?  Most resolutions center around health – exercising more, eating better, being more proactive towards our health issues.  Why don’t we start these resolutions mid-year? Or when they cross our minds?

Starting the New Year with a laundry list of changes that you want to implement into your life is setting yourself up for failure.  I hope you kept your resolutions list short and achievable.  It’s never too late to start making changes in your diet and lifestyle for the better.

Read on for some interesting articles!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D production, by our skin, is reduced by anything that decreases the intensity of the sun’s rays, including time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content and sunscreen.  The efficiency of conversion tends to decrease with age also.

Vitamin D is essential in promoting calcium homeostasis, healthy immune cell maturation, nerve & myelin health, memory, cognition and a healthy inflammatory response.

Vitamin D3 is the naturally occurring form of vitamin D synthesized in humans.  Research shows that vitamin D3 may be more than three times more effective than other forms of Vitamin D in raising and maintaining serum vitamin D levels.

Random blood testing in research studies have shown that 40% of the population is deficient in Vitamin D.  A study at the Mayo Clinic found that 92% of patients complaining of musculo-skeletal pain had low vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D testing is needed to establish a diagnosis of low vitamin D.  Vitamin D is a Fat Soluble vitamin and should be taken with caution.  Call Dr. Mundeir today to schedule an appointment to discuss if Vitamin D supplementation is appropriate for you.

The “Dirty Dozen”

The Must Buy Organic Fruits and Veggies

With the cost of food rising, including organic food, it is important to know which foods on your shopping list should be organic. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has determined the “dirty-dozen,” the must-buy organic foods. By analyzing more than 100,000 pesticide test results, they look at the amount of pesticides found in foods, even after washing, to determine the “dirty-dozen.” Below is a list of the must-buy organic…

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Lettuce
• Grapes, imported
• Pears
• Spinach
• Potatoes

There are number of reason why some fruits and vegetables would hold on to pesticides more than others. As an example a strawberry might hold on to a pesticide due to its soft, thin outer layer. Whereas, a banana, with its thick peel, would have less of a chance of contamination to its edible portion.

Keep the “dirty-dozen” in mind when shopping.

Reference: Environmental Working Group