The Health Diva

The Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey team are the first “Vitamin D” team in modern professional sports history!

On a Sunday night, which will now go down in history; with just six minutes to go, the Blackhawks overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-2 and advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 18 years. Not only that, it was a clean sweep for the unheralded Blackhawks, for so long a forgotten team amongst the super teams like San Jose, Montreal and Philadelphia.

The return to form of the Chicago Blackhawks is attributed to the team physicians, who began diagnosing and treating vitamin D deficiency in all Blackhawk players about 18 months ago. Apparently most players are on 5,000 IU per day, some even more.

After many losing seasons, last year the Blackhawks came from out of nowhere to get to the Western conference finals. This year they are playing even better.

Improved athletic performance is only one of the benefits for the Blackhawks players. The other is a reduction in the number and severity of colds and flu and a reduction in the number and severity of repetitive-use injuries.

With London 2012 Olympic dreams close to many athletes hearts, naturally increasing sports performance is a Hot Topic.

Six months ago, Runner’s World published a story on vitamin D and physical performance, illustrating how Olympic runner Deena Kastor’s Olympic hopes were dashed through Vitamin D deficiency.
A year ago, May 2009, the flagship journal of the American College of Sports Medicine was the first journal to publish the theory that vitamin D would improve athletic performance.

Cannell JJ, Hollis BW et Al. Athletic performance and vitamin D Med Sci Sports Enerc. 2009 May;41(5):1102-10.

We are only at the tip of the iceberg in our understanding of vitamin D research, with more research be conducted on MS prevention, Diabetes prevention, and even Cancer prevention.

The prospect that our summer is already over, combined with low fat diets all contribute to fact many UK citizens are sadly deficient in vitamin D. This week prominent scientists were calling for increased fortification of vitamin D in Uk foods. In the meantime vitamin D is a nutrient I have added to my daily supplement program.

The revised vitamin D optimal recommendations are between 1000iu – 4000iu per day.

Always check with your doctor if you are taking prescribed medications, or have health condition, which could impair your absorption of vitamin D.

Natural sources of vitamin D include oily fish, egg yolks, and vitamin D fortified dairy products.