Vitamin D Deficiency Greatly Increases Cognitive Function Decline

Yes your mother was right! Milk really is that important and if you can't bear it, perhaps a product made from milk or other Vitamin D source would be in order. Joint research conducted at the University of California-Davis and Rutgers University found that people with Vitamin D deficiency declined three times faster than people without the deficiency. So what does this mean for people who are lactose intolerant or prefer milk substitutes in their coffee like Silk?

According to Spokeswomen/Author Kathy Freston, an "8-ounce serving [of Silk] contains 45 percent of the daily recommended value of calcium and at least 25 percent of the daily recommended value of Vitamin D". Hmm, that still leaves 75 percent of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) unaccounted for. A multivitamin would be cheap insurance provided the body can metabolize it completely. If not, Silk and other alternative Vitamin D sources are probably a good bet. Examples of other sources of Vitamin D include:

• fish oils and fatty fish
• egg yolks
• cheese
• beef liver
• some mushrooms
• sunlight

It should be noted that certain Vitamin D sources like beef liver and mushrooms may not contain sufficient quantities of Vitamin D. If you are lactose intolerant, have food allergies or have other medical conditions or concerns, be sure to speak with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist.

In addition to cognitive decline, Vitamin D has been linked to other serious ailments. According to thehealthyhomeeconomist.com "Vitamin D deficiency is strongly related to the development of diabetes, autism, psoriasis, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer, even hypertension and psoriasis." While some of this like the autism link might be controversial, it is clear that Vitamin D is certainly a nutrient we cannot live without and any nutritional deficiency has potential for grave consequences.