Bundle Up, or Take Vitamin D3

Do these symptoms sound familiar – runny nose, coughing or fever?

Oh the flu; what a headache – literally. On average a person can expect one or two every season and this winter season hasn’t disappointed either.  It’s had its fair share of chilly days and the flu’s certainly made its rounds.

Having a coughing attack on the subway and being avoided like a leper, or having a roll of toilet paper attached to you every minute, is just not appealing. According to many doctors, all we really need is vitamin D3 supplements. 

The health benefits of vitamin D are vast and it is surprising to know how important of a role it plays in your health. Not only does it maintain your calcium balance, regulate your blood pressure, lower the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancers, but most importantly it boosts your immune system. 

You get vitamin D from fortified milk, herring, mackerel, tuna, sardines, eggs, cereals and baked goods, but the best source of it is from the sun. However, it’s not always possible to get your vitamin D from sunshine or adequate amounts from your diet, so vitamin D3 is a practical way of getting it. 

I heard about D3 through my dad this past weekend. I was hoping for rest and relaxation during my visit because I’ve been fighting a two-week-long cold that was just not getting any better.  He heard about vitamin D3 and has been taking it for a couple months now and hasn’t gotten sick yet.  I’m always hesitant and skeptical about my dad’s constant crazy ideas and projects and I thought this definitely had to one of them.

But I was bedridden the whole weekend. I had no choice but to be my mom’s patient and an experiment for my dad, the so-called “self-proclaimed doctor.” He was determined to make me take vitamin D3 pills because he says they’d heal me. I took them and he sent me away with a huge Costco-sized bottle.  I’ll let you know the results.

— Sarah DiVito