Collin County Living Well Magazine May/June 2017 | Página 17

amount of fat. Even a trivial amount of fat in a meal (or in a softgel) allows vitamin D to combine with other fatty acids and, later, with enzymes to promote complete breakdown and absorption into the liver and kidney. In one experiment researchers concluded that taking vita- min D in the morning is better than taking it at night. A morning dose of D correlated with increases in REM, deep sleep, and the number of hours asleep. When the dosing was reversed to where the D was taken at night, sleep qual- ity plummeted with significance. With busier and busier schedules becoming the norm, healthy sleep is worth its weight in gold. Most authori- ties stress the importance of no less than 7 hours night- ly, on average, for each adult. Should your average sleep duration begin to lag as the workweek comes to a close, take extra vitamin D with breakfast and focus on turning in earlier. If you are not practicing good sleep hygiene and not taking adequate vitamin D at the right time, you are setting yourself up for a triple fail. Prac- tice all three and these habits will reinforce and amplify the effect of the other. If you are unsure of where to start, there are a few op- tions. Your first stop may be to visit your doctor and find out with a simple blood test where your vitamin D levels are right now (Ideal ranges anywhere from 30-110ng/mL). Remember: D levels are influenced by time of day, time of year and supplementation. If you have a vitamin D level that is more than six months old, it is time to do it again. If your insurance will not cover another test, there are cash- pay and discounted options through alternative laborato- ries (i.e. lab testing services) and other locally owned and operated lab service providers, as recommended by your pharmacist. Once you have your results in hand, come visit for more personalized recommendations regarding which vitamin D is the best for you. Book your appointment today with me, Christina, a certified clinical nutritionist, to review your medications, supplements, laboratory results and dietary habits. You may also visit with Donna S. Barsky, Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) / Owner. Donna is an active member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, a Certified Diabetic Counselor, a Pharmaceutical Preceptor (trains pharmacists), a functional medicine expert and compounding “guru.” TexasStaradforlivingwell.pdf 1 April 8, 2017 C M FREE 30 MINUTE NUTRITIONAL CONSULTATION WHEN YOU MENTION LIVING WELL! Y CM (By Appointment) MY CY CMY K Donna S. Barsky, Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy)/Owner 3033 W. Parker Rd., #100 • Plano, Texas 75023 (Corner of Parker and Independence) [phone] • [email protected] COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2017 15