Vitamin D, best natural protection against swine flu in pregnancy

If you are a pregnant Hot Mama or a Hot Mama with a new baby, the possibility of contracting the swine flu is not a happy thought. Pregnant women are more at risk because if they contract the flu, it is a much stronger and potentially more dangersous virus. In my past blog, I wrote about my apprehensions about the swine flu vaccine, due to the fact that it contains thimerosol. Thimerosol is a mercury containing perservative used in some vaccines. While the research is inconlusive about the damaging effects of mercury exposure on a developing baby's brain, there are many healthcare professionals who strongly believe that there is a definite link between autism and mercury exposure.

If you are a Hot Mama who has made the choice not to get vaccinated, there is new evidence that Vitamin D offers significant protection against the Swine Flu. Vitamin D is a powerful immune booster and has shown to fight several germs, including viruses and bacteria. In one study, it was shown that Americans with the lowest vitamin D levels were 40% more likely to have reported respiratory infection than those with normal levels.

How does a Hot Mama get enough Vitamin D? Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get enough vitamin D from food. The skin absorbs vitamin D if exposed to the sun without sunblock. If you are trying to prevent premature aging and skin cancer and are wearing sunblock with at least an SPF of 15, 99% of all Vitamin D will be blocked. Also, if you are a Hot Mama living in the upper half of the United States from November-March, it is impossible to get enough vitamin D even if you are sunbathing sans clothing or sunblock.

I recommend that my Hot Mama's take a supplement that contains somewhere between 400-1000 IU of Vitamin D a day. This amount is safe for pregnant women. Vitamin D levels can easily be tested by your doctor. If you are deficient, your doctor or nutritionist may want you to take more. Make sure you don't overdose on Vitamin D, however. Taking too much for too long can be toxic.