Health, Weight Loss & Diet Plans General Blog: Stomach Troubles? You May Not Be Getting Enough Of THIS Vitamin

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Stomach Troubles? You May Not Be Getting Enough Of THIS Vitamin</h1>
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                                <section class="field-body">Gassy or 
bloated? Have sharp abdominal pain and frequent problems in the, er, 
bathroom? A salmon fillet and a little sunshine may help cure your 
issues. A new study in <em>BMJ Open Gastroenterology</em> suggests that 
you may be experiencing these gastrointestinal woes because you're low 
in vitamin D—75% of all Americans are—and that increasing your intake 
could spell relief. (<span class="s1"><em>The Power Nutrient Solution</em> is the first-ever plan that tackles the root cause of virtually every major ailment and health condition; get your copy today!</span>)<br />

In the study, researchers found that a whopping 82% of participants with irritable bowel syndrome
 (IBS)—a disorder affecting the colon characterized by abdominal pain, 
constipation, diarrhea, and bloating—had insufficient vitamin D levels. 
The lower their levels, in fact, the more severe their symptoms and the 
worse their quality of life.<br />
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Right now, it's too early to say if vitamin D deficiency
 causes IBS, or if people with some of these symptoms like frequent 
bloating—but not full-blown IBS—are also more likely to be low in 
vitamin D. But there is good reason to believe that increasing vitamin D
 levels will improve general bowel health, says study coauthor Bernard 
Corfe, PhD, as previous research shows that conditions like inflammatory
 bowel disease and colorectal cancer are also associated with low D 
levels.<br />

One possible explanation for this nutrient's effect on your gut: 
There are vitamin D receptors located throughout the colon that help 
regulate bowel inflammation—and not getting enough vitamin D could 
interfere with that. Vitamin D also seems to play a role in the 
production of the mood-boosting
 neurotransmitter serotonin, which may be why people with IBS are also 
more likely to be depressed and rate quality of life as low.<br />

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Currently, the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults get 600 
IU of vitamin D every day, but it won't hurt to supplement with 
more—many doctors think that number is far too low and recommend 
anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 IU (participants in the study were given 
3,000 IU) for optimal health. If you want to see exactly where your 
levels lie, ask your doctor for a 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test.<br />

What you should do right now: "This study suggests that upping 
vitamin D intake via sun exposure, supplements, and food may help remedy
 certain symptoms for those with IBS and promote good general bowel 
health for the average person," says Corfe. So, while not a guarantee, 
the following diet and lifestyle changes may play a key role in getting 
you some much-needed relief.<br />

<strong>1. Up your intake of vitamin D–rich foods.</strong><br />
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 Think fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and tuna; eggs; liver; 
mushrooms; and fortified foods like yogurt, milk, almond milk, and 
cereals. These strategic dietary tweaks will get you closer to optimal 
vitamin D levels—a 3-oz fillet of salmon alone packs 447 IU—but diet 
alone may still not be enough if your levels are low.<br />

<strong>2. Consider a supplement. </strong><br />
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 Because most people are low in vitamin D and medical experts agree that
 the recommended daily intake is on the low side, supplementing is 
smart—especially during winter months when you're not synthesizing your 
own vitamin D via sunshine. Look for vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and 
aim for at least 1,500 IU per day.<br />

<strong>3. Get some sun. </strong><br />
 In warmer months, sunlight is your best source of vitamin D, and going 
outside for about 10 minutes in the midday sun in shorts and a T-shirt 
or tank top (without sunscreen—seriously, it's OK for this short amount 
of time) will allow you to produce about 10,000 IU—exceeding your daily 
quota. This isn't possible in the winter, because the sun doesn't get 
high enough in the sky for its UVB rays to penetrate the atmosphere, so 
stick to the two tips above.</section></div>
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Stomach Troubles? You May Not Be Getting Enough Of THIS Vitamin

Health digestive health Stomach Troubles? You May Not Be Getting Enough Of THIS Vitam...