Are You Getting Enough of This Immune-Boosting Vitamin?

A new study finds this immune-boosting vitamin has a protective effect against respiratory infections…

You may have heard some of the news in recent years about vitamin D (the “sunshine vitamin”) and its powerful anti-cancer benefits. But although the pharmaceutical industry wants you to think that drugs and vaccines are the only way to prevent colds and flu, in fact, vitamin D is a powerful immune-boosting vitamin that remains one of the best ways to strengthen your immune system and stay healthy year-round.

According to a new study, those who are vitamin D-deficient may reduce their risk of respiratory infections by up to 50% by supplementing with vitamin D. Here’s more from NaturalNews.com:

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) recently conducted a meta-analysis featuring data collected from a total of 11,000 people. All told, 25 double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trials looking at vitamin D2 and D3 supplementation’s impact on cold and flu risk were chosen for analysis.

Study leader Dr. Adrian Martineau, a professor of respiratory infection and immunity at QMUL, commented, “We found that overall there was a modest protective effect.”

On average, vitamin D supplementation reduced the incidence of cold and flu by 10 percent. However, the effectiveness of vitamin D on disease risk seemed to be dependent on the individual’s starting point. The researchers say that people who entered the studies with vitamin D deficiency saw a substantially greater reduction in their risk of infection. In fact, the scientists say, vitamin D cut their risk of cold and flu by an astonishing 50 percent.

“What we found is that those with the lowest vitamin D levels experienced the greatest benefit from supplementation,” Dr. Martineau contended.

As Natural Health 365 reports, vitamin D fights the flu at least as well as the flu shot (if not better)…

Over the last decade or so, we’ve learned a lot about vitamin D’s protective effect against many different diseases and health conditions – from cancer to diabetes, and more. However, there is still much debate over exactly how much vitamin D the body needs (and how much is safe) in order to receive its beneficial effects.

We still have much to learn about this important immune-boosting vitamin, but if you think you may be deficient, check with your doctor for a blood test. If your blood levels are low, supplementation could go a long way toward keeping you healthy this winter.