St. Louis, MO Chiropractor Talks about Vitamin D- It’s not all about Milk…

When it comes to discussing some of the core nutritional products that Dr. Wipperman recommends for his patients, Vitamin D is high on the list.

The human body contains roughly 30,000 genes, and Vitamin D has been shown to influence 10% (3,000) of them. This is the main reason that Vitamin D is so crucial, because of the effect that is has on so many of the diseases we face, like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What people may not know is that Vitamin D isn’t really a vitamin, it’s a steroid hormone produced in their skin. It is also acquired from different food sources and nutritional supplementation.

There are mainly two forms of Vitamin D, D2 and D3. D@ is found in milk, juices and cereals. D3 is synthesized in your skin from sun exposure, and is considered the “real” form of Vitamin D. A study in the January 2011 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that D3 is 87% more effective than D2, and is the preferred form from treating Vitamin D deficiency.

So, what is the normal, healthy range for Vitamin D, and how can you be tested to determine if you have a deficiency? Optimal ranges of Vitamin D whether you are a child, adolescent, adult or senior is 50-70 ng/ml. Even though some labs will say the range only needs to be between 20-56 ng/ml, the fact is that Vitamin D should never be below 32 ng/ml and the optimal ranges are as stated above.

Unfortunately, the reason that most of us are deficient in Vitamin D is because we don’t spend 15 minutes a day, three times a week in the sun. If we do, we usually lather up with sunscreen that blocks out most of the UV rays that help produce Vitamin D in the first place.

So, if you haven’t been spending that much time in the sun, then I recommend supplementing your diet with Vitamin D. The amount of it that you need on a daily basis is specific for each individual, and we (a nutritionist) will be happy to determine that for you. There are several products on the market, but not all vitamins are created equal. If you are interested in improving your overall health, including your immune function, the find a nutritional specialist in your area (like Dr. Wipperman in you live in the St. Louis, MO area), and give them a call!

St. Louis Nutritionist Talks about Drug Induced Nutrient Deficiencies

Do your prescriptions deplete your nutritional status?

People are on many types of medications for different ailments. What many people don’t know is that a lot of these medications can actually slow the absorption of many nutrients, and lead to nutrient depletion. Learning about what medications effect different nutrients can help you learn what you need to supplement with.

Antacids and Ulcer Medications can lead to deficiencies in Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron and Zinc. What does this mean? You can be looking at side effects like anemia, depression, cardiovascular risk, osteoporosis, blood pressure issues, and weakened immune response.

Antibiotics can deplete your B Vitamins, Vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamin B6, and Zinc. In reality, I think, what in the world is Vitamin K? What does this have to do with my life and how I feel? I have never purchased something that is “rich in Vitamin K. Little did I know that being deficient in Vitamin K could result in decreased digestion, bloating, and a variety of other health problems.

Drugs that are supposed to help keep your cholesterol under control can cause issues with all things “cardiovascular”. This is due to a deficiency in Coenzyme Q10.

Anti-Depressants, Female hormones (oral contraceptives), Anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatories, diuretics, diabetic drugs, and so many more can cause deficiencies in many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. These deficiencies can put you at risk for many other, greater, health problems. It is important to find a Nutritional Specialist in your area that can test you for these deficiencies and help you supplement the right way.

For more information on medications and associated deficiencies in the St. Louis, MO area visit www.wippermanchiropractic.com or give us a call to set up a consultation at 314-872-7797! We can’t wait to meet you!

#TimeToSleep -How Lack of Sleep as Teenagers and Lead to Obesity

There is so much going on today in the world of the average teenager. Teens have homework, television, part-time jobs, and, of course, a social life to manage! It seems like it’s nearly impossible to get them to go to bed early. If only they knew what was at stake. Insufficient sleep during teen years sets the stage for insulin resistance and obesity in the adult years.

Yup, you heard right, heading to bed is as important as heading to the gym.

Another not-so-fun-fact is that reduced amounts of sleep result in the downregulation of the satiety hormone, leptin. This leads to increased hunger and food intake. More specifically it boosts hunger for foods that are high in carbohydrates. The combination of hunger and being sleep deprived is dangerous when it comes to the types of food that the afflicted person will select. People are more likely to select quick processed foods, as opposed to whole foods that take more time to prepare.

The quality of sleep also plays a role along with the duration of sleep. The longer the body is able to be in a deeper sleep the more able it is to regulate its hormone production. People need to “clam down” in order to allow this process to happen. The way that most teenagers live their lives, sleep is the only time their brains, bodies, and hormones truly get rest.