The Organic & Natural Health Association (O&N Health) has announced that it has launched its “All for Vitamin D: Building Stronger Families in a SNAP” campaign in an effort to encourage voters to urge Congress to include vitamin D3 in the farm bill’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The initiative calls on voters to reach out to their respective members of Congress, particularly those serving on the House Committee on Agriculture, and request the inclusion of vitamin D3 dietary supplements as part of SNAP recipients’ benefits to help disadvantaged Americans, according to the association.
“Sufficient vitamin D levels are of paramount importance, as we have witnessed during the pandemic,” said Alan Lewis, vice president of advocacy and governmental affairs at Natural Grocers and board member of O&N Health. “Recent data unequivocally highlights the critical role of vitamin D in addressing numerous health concerns. Relying on outdated notions of obtaining vitamin D solely through diet or sun exposure is not only impractical, but also perilous, advice. It is imperative that we embrace the power of dietary supplementation to provide effective and practical solutions for achieving optimal vitamin D levels.”
O&N Health said it has called out crucial nutrition gaps in SNAP that demand attention, and has partnered with SENPA, Natural Grocers, INFRA and the Council of Holistic Health Educators to address some of these concerns with constituents. While SNAP permits the purchase of a diverse range of foods, encompassing fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and proteins, it lacks explicit guidelines concerning the quality and nutritional value of these items, according to the association. Particularly, when addressing the challenge of meeting therapeutic vitamin D levels (40-60 ng/ml), SNAP falls short in providing solutions, especially since these vitamin D levels cannot be achieved solely through food or sunlight exposure, the association stated.
“Empowering SNAP recipients with nutrition knowledge and skills can save lives and taxpayer health care dollars,” said Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of O&N Health. “Vitamin D3 supplements offer an affordable solution to address a range of health challenges faced by families, including preterm births, depression, respiratory infections, asthma, cancer, and chronic diseases like cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.”
Research shows achieving a vitamin D level of 40 ng/ml has significant health benefits such as, reducing preterm birth by 60 percent and lowering cancer risk by 65 percent. Recent meta-analyses link higher vitamin D levels to decreased COVID-19 incidence, severity and morbidity rates. People of color face elevated risk due to melatonin blocking vitamin D absorption, making them more susceptible to chronic diseases and COVID-19 complications, the association pointed out.
For more information, visit www.All4VitaminD.com and https://organicandnatural.org.
