D

A little more free medical advice:

(I feel like I should insert some medical-legal disclaimer in here, but I wouldn't know what to say and that's just not my style. Seriously, though, if you have questions ask your doctor. Okay, moving on...)

A, B, C, D. D. Vitamin D. One of the best kept secrets out there, but we're working to make it a less well hidden secret. At my clinic, we have been checking Vitamin D levels on just about everyone who comes in for their annual exams or is getting lab drawn, and I've been shocked how many people are Vitamin D deficient. It is so prevalent that some doctors in our clinic have stopped checking and just tell everyone to start taking it.

Why does it matter? The benefits in bone health has been known for years and years. Our grandmas have been told to take calcium and vitamin D forever, right? Now, however, there are studies out there showing even more benefits, and it's not just for Grandma anymore.

Here are a few of the benefits:

• increased muscle strength
• treats psoriasis, a skin condition (obviously not the only treatment, but can't hurt)
• better immune system
• decreased risk of lymphoma and colon, prostate, & breast cancer; also, if you have one of these cancers it improves your chance of survival.
• if taken during pregnancy, it may be able reduce the risk of juvenile (type I) diabetes as well as asthma in the baby
• reduces risk for multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• helps to improve high blood pressure and prevent heart failure
• decreased risk of depression and other psychiatric diseases

It sounds like the cure all, right?! While all of those things have been documented, it is important to understand that the risk reduction isn't always very dramatic. We're talking about a difference in the range of fractions of a percent. While, unfortunately, it isn't the cure for cancer, depression, or heart disease; it sure can't hurt.

So, check the label of your multivitamin and make sure "D" is in there. Or, you could hang outside in your swim suit for 30 minutes a day in this lovely 30-degree March weather and soak in some sun to get it the "natural" way.