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Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

ijmpr.in

191–200 of 241 posts

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#191
What about the article that that talks about Vitamin D being the same chemical as rat poison and that the positive effects it has on our bodies may be due to the fact that we are low-level poisoning ourselves with it?

"Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is used as a rodenticide because it is highly toxic to rodents when ingested in sufficient quantities. It functions by causing a life-threatening elevation in blood calcium and phosphorus levels, leading to severe acute kidney failure"

"Despite its use in rodenticides, vitamin D3 is safe for humans and pets when consumed in normal dietary or supplement doses. However, extremely high doses of vitamin D3 can be toxic to humans as well, potentially leading to hypercalcemia, kidney stones, and renal failure. The difference in susceptibility between rodents and humans is significant; rodents are much more sensitive to the effects of cholecalciferol, which is why it is effective as a rodenticide."

The theory is that we are just poisoning ourselves by taking it and that our bodies react to being poisoned with the positive effects that are well documented and observed.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#192
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I find your comment enjoyably pithy, in the case of vitamin D, many humans are currently living at latitudes which they are not suited to (skin being too dark to generate enough vitamin D given the insolation), and eating diets which do not provide them with sufficient amounts of it (the carnivore diets of Inuits and similar groups being a good contrast).

It’s criminal that the US sent Somalian refuges to live in Minnesota. Those are some seriously brown people in the land of no vitamin D. Pretty big population in Seattle as well, which is worse due to cloud cover.

It was never about doing right for people, it was about making unbelievable gobs of money using them as pawns.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only criminal if they aren't provided with the education/information they need to live healthy lives (which is possible with the right diet/supplements).

Dark skinned people do not produce enough vitamin D in northern latitudes because of melanin. If you’re black and in Minnesota you probably need supplementation.

They have all already disappeared form public and it's only in the 40s right now. By winter you would swear no Somalis live in MN.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#194
post #4

I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba where it is quite cold for a big majority of the year. I have dabbled with supplements because I get a couple of major colds every year. I've heard things like you only need 15 minutes of sunshine per day to get your recommended dose of Vitamin D, but I've also heard it can be quite bad for you if you have too much in your system (and it's hard for your body to flush excess amounts). If t…

I take 5000 IU per day year round and have not had any issues. Research suggests you can dose 10x that without major problems, although personally I wouldn't go higher than I am already. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30611908/

It's bad for your kidneys

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's a scam, who's profiting? The pills are dirt cheap, generic, and over the counter.

Dr. Michael Holick: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/selling-america-v...

Interesting article, thanks!

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I’d love to just go for a walk outside, the allergen exposure of the outdoors is too high most of the time. This elements any mental health benefits a walk in a forest might otherwise give.

Allergy shots work very well.

I’m currently getting allergy shots. This is my 3rd attempt. Throughout my life I’ve gotten shots for about 12 years now. The last guy said they were better than I was kid and basically a cure now. 6 years later, and on the strongest dosage they’d give, getting 3 shots with each appointment… and I was never able to spend time outside without worry of what would follow.

There has been minor improvement in controlled testing, but no noticeable benefit when actually trying to live life. I go outside near nature once each year as a test to see if there was any progress. I can’t tolerate much more than that.

Shots work well for some. They worked decently well when I was a kid, but these days, not so much. I still hope the current ones will work, as I don’t have other options, but I’m beginning to lose hope.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indoors best invention since fire.

Maybe better. If I have to survive the night, overhead protection and thermal insulation is more important than a fire. Source: I've tried using both without the other.

There's definitely a reason we use tents while camping and don't just huddle around the fire.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#198
post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

50IU is a minuscule dose though, no? If people are recommended to supplement, they generally take a dose in the range of a few thousand.

i'm guessing he meant 50k not 50. 50k is quite a large dose.

There is no way that's what they meant. 50k is an absurdly large dose that's way outside the safe intake range. 10k is used sometimes under medical supervision and even then it's a very short term measure. For long term intake, 4000IU is a widely accepted safe upper limit. 50k is an order of magnitude more than that.

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#199
post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's a scam, who's profiting? The pills are dirt cheap, generic, and over the counter.

Tests are very expensive

How much are they where you are? They're 20-30 EUR on their own in Germany (doctor's office, pharmacies)

Re: Vitamin D reduces incidence and duration of colds in those with low levels

#200

Supplementing with vitamin D is honestly one of the easiest things you can do... it's cheap, available everywhere, and makes a real difference. Just make sure you're also taking magnesium citrate (or another good form of magnesium) with it, since your body needs magnesium to properly use vit D

An even better option is to go to your GP and have them run your bloodwork. It's cheap, depending on where you're from it might even be free, and you don't have to guess or randomly pick supplements you read about online. Most people on HN will live to a very high age, there's no reason to take random gambles on what you do to your body.

For sure, you're essentially flying blind without bloodwork. I get a full panel at least 3x/year.
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