Well everyone has probably heard that the latest vitamin that we seem to be lacking is Vitamin D.  And who knew but it seems that nearly every tissue in the body requires it to function.  So that is fairly significant.  The recommended amount to get daily is 400 IU but that seems to be on the low side and apparently most women aren't even getting that.  So they are recommending that we bump up our intake to 1000 - 2000 IU a day.  You can get Vitamin D in foods like salmon, fortified milk and cereal.  But it is impossible to eat enough to reach 1000 IU a day without taking a supplement.  You should be looking for Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) an active form that's been shown to be up to 10x more effective than D2 (ergocalciferol).  I haven't checked but SHAPE May 2008 says that One A Day Women's has 800 IU of Vitamin D3.  If you know of any other supplements with a good dose of Vitamin D3 please let us know.  I hope everyone is at least taking a multi vitamin a day.  No one eats well enough not to.

This isn't a vitamin but a food worth mentioning again.  Broccoli just keeps coming up as a wonder food.  It contains a compound called sulforaphane and it helps protect breasts, bladders and prostates from cancer.  New research from the UK says it could also prevent heart disease and heal blood vessel damage caused by diabetes.  Of course they say more research is needed but heck I think it's worth working into your diet as often as you can.  I know I prefer to use frozen broccoli all winter - remember it is harvested at it's peak - it's highest nutrient value so it is better for you than the out of season stuff you are seeing right now.

An update on bee pollen.  I found it in the heath food store in High River.  It was $7.20 for a 500 g jar.  I don't really like the taste when I put it on my cereal.  In my smoothie it's fine.  I don't think Gentry is that crazy about it so we might try one more jar just because it has 185 nutrients including more protein (by weight) than most protein-rich foods.  It is one of the highest food sources of energizing vitamin B12 and has omega-3 fatty acids.  Don't forget to store it in the frig to keep all those nutrients!

QUOTES I hope I am not repeating myself, but if I do it must be because I really like them!
Adulthood is defined by the willingness to accept full responsibility for where you are at in life, no longer blaming others or circumstances.  Joe Westbrook

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.... Joseph Priestley