FACT – Vitamin D is one of the most sought after vitamins by consumers globally
FACT – Mushrooms are being added to functional foods, snacks & beverages for their potential health benefits
The World Health Organization and the risk of an unhealthy diet
Non-communicative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes account for almost 90% of all deaths in the WHO European Region. The main risk factor for the mentioned diseases is following an unhealthy diet, according to WHO so they have released a report on nutrient profiling which is the science of ranking and classifying foods according to nutritional contents and preventing diseases while promoting health.
The Many Benefits of Vitamin D
Research conducted over the past decade suggests that Vitamin D plays a much broader disease-fighting role than once thought and has many other important functions, including its participation in immune maintenance, oral health, muscle health and strength, regulation of gene transcription, and protein-synthesis promotion. And results from the VITAL clinical trial published research showed a decreased incidence of autoimmune diseases in older adults from increasing their vitamin D intake
Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people have inadequate levels of Vitamin D in their blood, and deficiencies can be found in all ethnicities and age groups. Research conducted over the past decade suggests that Vitamin D plays a much broader disease-fighting role than once thought. Vitamin D was first known for bone development and maintenance, as it plays a key role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, two important minerals for bone integrity.
Kids and Vitamin D
Vitamin D Insufficiency - research recently published in the Journal of Nutritional Sciences showed that globally, 20.1% of children we found to be deficient in Vitamin D in the summer and rising to 25.9% in the winter which averaged together was 23%.
Bone, teeth & muscle benefits
Vitamin D is important in helping build strong bones & teeth needed for both growing children by improving calcium absorption. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of bone and muscle development and inadequate Vitamin D may have long-term effects on skeletal and other health outcomes. On a related subject, a recent Korean (June 2022 study), the research scientists observed a high prevalence of vitamin deficiency/insufficiency in children with fractures who required surgical treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the serum vitamin D levels became even lower, especially in younger children.
Seniors and Vitamin D
Functional foods, snacks and beverages are especially beneficial for older people, since they are more likely to have micronutrient deficiencies. For example, the KORA Age Study (2017), which examined 1079 Germans aged between 65 and 93, shows that one in two people Page 2 above 65 is deficient in vitamin D. By 2050 16 percent of the world population will be older than 65, twice the amount in 2010. In Europe, in 2050 more than one in four people (27.8 percent) will be over 65.
Seniors, Vitamin D and Bone & Teeth Health
Vitamin D is important in helping to maintain strong bones & teeth by improving calcium and other essential minerals, as it plays a key role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, two important minerals for bone integrity.
Vitamin D and Covid
In November 2021, the CRN Foundation applauded research being published that demonstrated significant links between vitamin D and COVID-19. The 13 meta-analyses were generated from more than 100 clinical trials published since the onset of the pandemic. While most of the meta-analyses examined blood levels of vitamin D and COVID-19, two exclusively examined vitamin D consumption in relationship to the illness. Most of the reviews found higher blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with lower incidence of COVID-19. Several meta-analyses found greater severity of and mortality from COVID-19 were associated with lower vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is NOT a substitute for vaccines, mask wearing, social distancing, or other behaviors to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” said Luke Huber, ND, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN, “but the data does suggest that vitamin D levels may play a role, in combination with other therapies, in strengthening the immune system to resist the virus.”
Vitamin D and Diabetes
More than half a billion people are living with diabetes worldwide, affecting men, women, and children of all ages in every country, and that number is projected to more than double to 1.3 billion people in the next 30 years, with every country seeing an increase, as published today in The Lancet. The latest and most comprehensive calculations show the current global prevalence rate is 6.1%, making diabetes one of the top 10 leading causes of death and disability Diabetes was especially evident in people 65 and older in every country and recorded a prevalence rate of more than 20% for that demographic worldwide. The highest rate was 24.4% for those between ages 75 and 79. Research suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a vitamin D deficiency. One study noted people with type 2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have inflammation and a higher hemoglobin A1c (A1C) than those who do not have a deficiency. The reversal of vitamin D deficiency could improve this population's insulin secretion and A1C levels.
Consumer Attitudes on Immune Health
lVitamin D helps to maintain & support immune function. Vitamin D plays a vital role just in enhancing the human innate immune systems, but also prevents the immune system from becoming dangerously overactive. As a result of which, having healthy levels of vitamin D helps the patient against severe complications, including death, from Covid-19. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to boost the demand for vitamin D at a much higher rate in the global market. COVID-19 did not change consumer attitudes towards immune health, however put immunity in the spotlight.
- 65% of consumers are more conscious of their immune health because of COVID-19
- 70% have changed their diets and lifestyles to improve their immunity levels and seeking out functional foods and nutritional supplements that offer a health boost
Potential Brain Benefits from Vitamin D
Depression - Recent studies show that Vitamin D may affect the functions of dopamine and norepinephrine which are monamine neurotransmitters that are involved in depression. Which means Vitamin D may modulate the relationship between depression and inflammation. Interestingly, the best benefits were achieved when the Vitamin D was derived from food, NOT supplements
Dementia - According to a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, boosting low vitamin D levels to normal ranges could help protect the brain against a loss of thinking skills as people age, the study authors wrote. The study is the first to examine the effect of very low levels of vitamin D on the risks of dementia and stroke, using robust genetic analyses among a large population,” she said. The risk of dementia was predicted to be 54% higher for participants with low vitamin D levels
Bone & Teeth Benefits .
Vitamin D is important in helping to maintain strong bones & teeth by improving calcium and other essential minerals, as it plays a key role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, two important minerals for bone integrity.
American Cancer Society and American Institute of Cancer
Vitamins may help protect against cancer, but that is when you get them naturally from food according to both American Cancer Society and the American Institute for Cancer Research who emphasize that getting cancer-fighting nutrients from foods like whole grains nuts, fruits, mushrooms and vegetables are VASTLY SUPERIOR to getting them from supplements. Priority should always be to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
We are we getting our Vitamin D from organic mushrooms?
Mushrooms are true superfoods with a powerhouse of healthy compounds that include polysaccharides (including beta-glucans), triterpenoids, sterols, prebiotics, antioxidant enzymes (lactase, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD)), amino acids, polyphenols, proteins, vitamins & minerals, peptides, flavonoids, and digestive enzymes (proteases, lipases) Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain multiple health boosting nutrients. On-going research shows your brain naturally slows down over time. The symptoms you associate with aging—like memory loss and lack of focus are caused by factors in your nervous system like shrinking neurons and damaged brain cells. A compound NGF, plays an important role in forming myelin, the sheath around nerve cells that helps brain cells do their job.
Both Vitamin D and mushroom reduce inflammation, why is this important? Inflammation is a comprehensive array of physiological responses to a foreign organism, including human pathogens, dust particles, and viruses. Inflammations are mainly divided into acute and chronic inflammation depending on various inflammatory processes and cellular mechanisms. Recent investigations have clarified that inflammation is a major factor for the progression of various chronic diseases/disorders, including like heart disease, diabetes cancer, cardiovascular diseases, eye disorders, arthritis, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease)
Food much better that artificial to get health boosting nutrients into the body Artificial Vitamin D supplements are inferior to all natural from foods including Vitamin D rich mushrooms. Its the mix of other bioactives, vitamins, minerals, fibre and proteins which act together to deliver health benefits. Vastly superior bioavailability!