“I’m not taking these pills,” said Mom. “Here.” She dug deep into the pocket of her robe and handed me almost a dozen small, football-shaped, dark golden gel caps. “They started giving them to me last week and there aren’t any numbers printed on them. I have no idea what they are.”
“You’re not taking the medicine they give you?” I asked incredulously.
“For all I know, they’re trying to poison me,” my paranoid mother huffed.
Ever the dutiful daughter, I investigated, and the capsules turned out to be nothing more than good old Vitamin D. I explained this to Mom.
“So how come they don’t have a number stamped on them?” she asked warily, still refusing to take them.
Exasperated, I popped several gel caps into my mouth all at once and washed them down with a swig of soda. “If I’m not dead in 20 minutes, you have no excuse.”
Then I opened up my iPad, googled Vitamin D, and read aloud:
“The main function of Vitamin D is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones and to aid in cell-to-cell communication throughout the body. We can manufacture our own Vitamin D through frequent exposure to sunlight, but often a supplement is needed to get enough for optimum benefits.
Current research suggests that Vitamin D is a true Super Supplement. It has been linked to lower body weight, increased energy, healthier bones, fewer headaches, less muscle and joint pain, lower blood pressure, lower risk of diabetes, a lower risk of certain cancers, assisting in the maintenance of cognitive functions and much more.”
“Oh,” said Mom. “Why didn’t somebody say so?”
That day we both started taking Vitamin D supplements. I take mine with Calcium. If even a quarter of the possible benefits were realized, it would be a good thing to add to my own healthy regimen. During my next routine physical, my doctor agreed.
So now I invite all my readers to check it out for yourselves; more Vitamin D might be good for you, too!