health and wellness
Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient
Jacqueline Hernandez, Florida International University and Cristina Palacios, Florida International University
You’ve likely heard about vitamin D’s important role in maintaining strong bones and teeth. But it also plays several other important roles to keep your body healthy – including the function of your gut.
As part of our research on how a dietary fiber supplement affects bone mass in children and adolescents, the MetA-Bone Trial, we are also studying gut health.
For this study, we recruited 213 children and adolescents from South Florida, primarily Hispanics, though some were Black. Before having them start taking the fiber supplement, we measured their vitamin D levels to ensure they had adequate amounts. Surprisingly, we found that 68% of these children had suboptimal vitamin D levels.
Considering South Florida is an area with plenty of sunshine year-round, this was both startling and concerning. While vitamin D can be obtained from foods, most people in the U.S. get this vitamin primarily from skin exposure to sunlight. For youth approaching or experiencing puberty – a period of profound physiological changes, including rapid changes in bone mass – vitamin D deficiency could lead to several health issues.
Connection between vitamin D and health
Vitamin D is involved in so many bodily functions because there are vitamin D receptors in different organs. These receptors act like docking stations for vitamin D to bind to and trigger different effects in the skin, intestine, bone, parathyroid gland, immune system and pancreas, among others.
Vitamin D regulates calcium levels in the body, which is key for not only building and maintaining bone mass but also the basic functioning of the nervous system.
Vitamin D also stimulates cell differentiation, a process in which cells become specialized to carry out specific functions. It is also essential to insulin secretion to control blood sugar levels, blood pressure regulation, muscle repair and regeneration, immune function and nutrient absorption, among many other functions.
Vitamin D and gut health
The vitamin D receptors in your gut improve calcium absorption and strengthen your intestinal barrier.
The intestinal barrier is a layered wall that allows your gut to absorb nutrients and keep out harmful bacteria. This wall is composed of intestinal cells and proteins called tight junctions that act like bricks sealing these cells together. Tight junctions play an important role in maintaining the structure of your intestinal barrier.
Vitamin D receptors help your gut produce tight junctions to maintain your intestinal barrier. Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency reduces production of the receptors the nutrient binds to, subsequently reducing the seal of the intestinal wall. This weakening of the gut barrier may allow substances from the intestine to pass into the blood, causing inflammation. Disruption of the intestinal barrier is linked to many diseases, including liver disease, Type 1 diabetes, obesity and gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
After discovering that so many of the participants in our MetA-Bone Trial had suboptimal vitamin D levels, we became interested in understanding how this nutrient might be affecting their gut health. For this, we also measured the strength of their intestinal barrier and associated this to their vitamin D levels in blood.
We found that children with suboptimal vitamin D levels had a higher risk of damaging their intestinal barrier compared with children with optimal vitamin D levels. This finding suggests that even in healthy children, suboptimal levels of vitamin D may compromise the gut and potentially increase the risk of developing chronic diseases at an early age.
Getting enough vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the U.S. and around the world. Roughly 15.4% of children and adolescents in the U.S. were vitamin D deficient in 2017. While vitamin D deficiency has slightly decreased over time in the general U.S. population, it remains high among teens, especially children with darker skin.
How can you ensure you are getting enough of this important nutrient?
Only a few foods naturally contain vitamin D. For example, vitamin D is naturally found in fatty fish – such as trout, salmon, cod and tuna – egg yolks and mushrooms. Vitamin D can also be found in many fortified foods, such as dairy products like milk and cheese, plant-based milks, breakfast cereals, some orange juice brands and infant formulas. Dietary supplements are also good sources of vitamin D.
For most people in the U.S., sun exposure is their main source of vitamin D. However, how much sun exposure you need depends on several factors, such as the melanin content of your skin. Melanin is a pigment that protects your skin from ultraviolet radiation. People with more melanin – and therefore darker skin – produce less vitamin D from sun exposure than those with less melanin and may thus require longer sun exposure to meet minimum requirements.
Since excessive ultraviolet radiation is associated with skin cancer, clinicians typically recommend you meet your vitamin D requirements through foods and beverages. For healthy children and adults, the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D is 600 IU, with an age-based upper limit of no more than 1,000 to 4,000 IU. You can usually meet this through a healthy diet that includes a variety of whole and unprocessed foods.
Researchers continue to uncover the extensive benefits of vitamin D in the body, supporting its indispensable role in nutrition and health. For growing children and adolescents, enough vitamin D is important for healthy development.
Jacqueline Hernandez, Assistant Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University and Cristina Palacios, Professor and Chair of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
https://stmdailynews.com/the-fate-of-lucky-supermarkets-in-socal/
Women's Health
Menopause changes your mouth. Most women have no idea.
Menopause changes your mouth: Many women are familiar with the most talked-about symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings. Far fewer know that dry mouth and sensitive teeth belong on that list too.
Menopause changes your mouth. Most women have no idea.
(Sheeka Sanahori) Many women are familiar with the most talked-about symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings. Far fewer know that dry mouth and sensitive teeth belong on that list too.
There’s a name for it: menopause mouth. According to survey data from Delta Dental Insurance Company, 83% of women 40 and older in menopause aren’t aware of any of its symptoms.
What menopause mouth feels like
Forty percent say they have noticed an increase in dry mouth. Another 27% have noticed more tooth sensitivity in recent months, and 26% say things taste different than they used to. You tell yourself it’s something else. You’re not drinking enough water; you’ve been brushing too hard. Menopause isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
It adds up. Forty-five percent say oral symptoms associated with menopause, such as tooth pain, dry mouth or gum inflammation, take a toll on their confidence, mood or mental health.
Menopause affects the whole body, mentally and physically. So why is the mouth left out?
Even after learning about this connection, 30% of women say they can’t find information about menopause-related oral health concerns. It isn’t that no one is willing to discuss it.
What makes the conversation hard to start
Three-quarters of dentists say they are comfortable discussing menopause with patients. They just want to know who they’re talking to. Most say they would want more patient history, or to know a patient was in menopause, before raising the subject. Forty-five percent say they would not bring up how menopause affects oral health unless a patient asked.
Dentists also believe that patients are already informed. Ninety-four percent say their patients are at least somewhat aware that menopause can affect oral health. So a patient says nothing about her dry mouth, because it doesn’t seem like a dental problem. The dentist doesn’t bring it up either, assuming someone already has.
Women are asking for the information
Nearly nine in 10 women say it would help to receive specific instructions during dental visits about managing oral health during menopause. And 69% say they would be more likely to book an appointment if a primary care provider or OB-GYN had told them menopause affects oral health.
No matter who brings it up, the conversation is one worth having. Hormonal changes during menopause can increase the risk of tooth loss or tooth decay, gum disease, receding gumline or loss of jawbone density. Discussing new oral symptoms with a dentist can help women identify potential problems and address them early.
How to start the conversation with your dentist
Your dentist probably doesn’t know you’re in menopause. Start there.
Questions worth asking:
- “Could the changes I’m noticing be related to menopause?”
- “I haven’t had a cavity in 30 years, and now I have two. Could that be tied to hormonal changes?”
- “What can I do about dry mouth?”
- “Are there symptoms I should watch for?”
- “Should I adjust my oral care routine?”
Any one of these questions can get the conversation started.
Methodology
Delta Dental Insurance Company commissioned Atomik Research to conduct two online surveys between June 25 and July 2, 2025.
The first surveyed 200 dentists throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 7 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.
The second surveyed 1,511 women ages 40 or older throughout the United States. To qualify, participants had to indicate they are in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. Those who were not sure which stage they were in, or who indicated they were not yet in one of the three stages, were excused from participation. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% confidence level
Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is an independent market research agency.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Delta Dental Insurance Company
health and wellness
Flu Season Arrives Early: Walgreens Launches 2026-2027 Flu Index as Activity Rises Across the U.S.
The 2026-2027 flu season is tracking four weeks ahead of recent years. Explore Walgreens’ new Flu Index, rising activity, and ways to stay protected.
Last Updated on November 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff
2026-2027 Flu Season: New tracking data suggests influenza activity is running approximately four weeks ahead of recent seasons, with increases reported across western states and Florida.
2026-2027 Flu Season Starts Early as Walgreens Launches New Flu Index
STM Daily News | Health & Wellness
October 30, 2026
Flu season may be getting an early start this year, and a new online tracking tool from Walgreens is giving Americans a closer look at respiratory illness activity in their communities.
On October 21, Walgreens announced the launch of its 2026-2027 Flu Index, an interactive tool that monitors influenza, COVID-19, and other acute respiratory illnesses across the United States.
According to the company’s initial findings, national flu activity is tracking approximately four weeks ahead of recent flu seasons, with increasing activity reported across several western states and Florida.
The early trends serve as a reminder that influenza doesn’t necessarily wait until winter to begin spreading.
Flu Activity Is Increasing Earlier Than Expected
Walgreens reports that its early-season data indicates influenza activity is already increasing in multiple parts of the country.
The company’s findings include:
- Earlier flu activity: National flu activity is tracking approximately four weeks ahead of recent seasons.
- Regional increases: Several western states and Florida are experiencing rising activity.
- More antiviral prescriptions: Walgreens reports dispensing more flu antiviral medications than during the same period in 2025.
- Growing demand for cold and flu products: Sales of cold and flu medications, at-home respiratory illness tests, cough drops, and tea have increased by double-digit percentages compared with last year.
Although these indicators suggest respiratory illness activity is increasing, they do not necessarily mean the current flu season will be more severe than previous seasons.
Increased purchases of cold medications and testing products can reflect changes in consumer behavior as well as illness trends.
The findings come from Walgreens’ pharmacy and retail data and should be considered alongside public health surveillance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What Is the Walgreens Flu Index?
The Walgreens Flu Index is an interactive online platform designed to help consumers understand where respiratory illnesses are circulating and how activity is changing over time.
The tool combines several types of information, including:
- Flu and COVID-19 testing data from Walgreens locations
- Prescription antiviral medication trends
- Over-the-counter cold and flu product purchases
- Geographic patterns in respiratory illness activity
Using these indicators, Walgreens calculates an activity score ranging from 0 to 10.
A score of zero represents the lowest level of activity, while a score of ten represents the highest.
The index provides weekly information for states and territories, along with more than 1,500 counties where sufficient Walgreens data is available.
The map is updated every Monday, allowing users to compare current activity with previous weeks and the prior flu season.
Importantly, Walgreens emphasizes that the index measures relative illness activity, not disease severity. A higher score does not necessarily indicate more hospitalizations, more serious infections, or a greater risk of complications.
The index also does not represent a complete count of influenza cases nationwide.
Explore the interactive map:
https://www.walgreens.com/seasonal/respiratory-illness-index
Why Local Flu Activity Matters
Influenza does not spread evenly across the country.
Some communities may experience increasing cases weeks before others, making local information useful for families, schools, healthcare providers, and individuals who may be at higher risk of complications.
“Flu activity can vary significantly from one community to another, and knowing what’s happening locally can make a real difference,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy and enterprise external affairs officer.
Gates added that the index is intended to help people make informed decisions about prevention, including vaccination before influenza becomes more widespread in their communities.
For residents of states such as Arizona, California, Nevada, and other western states, the reported regional increases make monitoring local respiratory illness trends particularly relevant.
However, the company’s announcement does not establish that every western county is experiencing elevated flu activity. Readers should consult the latest local data for a more accurate picture.
Why Getting a Flu Shot Still Matters
Annual influenza vaccination remains an important tool for reducing the risk of flu illness and serious complications.
Because influenza viruses change over time, flu vaccines are reviewed and updated each season to target strains expected to circulate.
The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for most people ages six months and older, with rare exceptions.
Vaccination is especially important for people who face a greater risk of serious complications, including:
- Adults ages 65 and older
- Young children, particularly those younger than five
- Pregnant individuals
- People with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
- People with weakened immune systems
For adults 65 and older, the CDC preferentially recommends certain enhanced influenza vaccines, including higher-dose, recombinant, or adjuvanted options, when available.
Walgreens says its pharmacies offer standard-dose and higher-dose vaccines, along with a new mRNA influenza vaccine at select locations.
Vaccine selection should follow current CDC recommendations, individual eligibility, and guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
It generally takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop protective antibodies.
Even if influenza is already circulating locally, vaccination can still provide benefits throughout the season.
Practical Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Sick
Vaccination is an important preventive measure, but it is not the only step people can take to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Public health guidance also encourages several everyday precautions.
Wash your hands regularly. Use soap and water, particularly after touching shared surfaces or being in public places. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help when soap and water are unavailable.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets.
Improve indoor air quality. Opening windows when practical, improving ventilation, and using appropriate air filtration can help reduce exposure to airborne respiratory viruses.
Avoid close contact when sick. Staying home when experiencing respiratory illness symptoms can help protect coworkers, classmates, friends, and family members.
Consider wearing a well-fitting mask. Masks can provide an additional layer of protection, particularly in crowded indoor spaces or around people at higher risk.
Pay attention to symptoms. Fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, and congestion can occur with influenza and other respiratory infections.
Because flu and COVID-19 can produce similar symptoms, testing may help determine the cause of an illness.
People at higher risk of complications should contact a healthcare professional promptly if flu symptoms develop. Prescription antiviral medications work best when started early, ideally within the first two days of symptoms, although treatment can still benefit some patients later.
Walgreens Expands Vaccination Access for the 2026–2027 Season
Alongside the launch of its Flu Index, Walgreens announced several efforts to make seasonal vaccinations more convenient.
The company says it is increasing pharmacy staffing, expanding appointment availability, and allowing customers to schedule vaccinations further in advance.
Customers can arrange appointments through several methods:
- Online: https://www.walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine
- Mobile: Walgreens app
- Text: Send “Flu” to 66879
- Telephone: 1-800-WALGREENS
- Walk-in: Participating Walgreens pharmacies, subject to availability
Walgreens also announced promotional Walgreens Cash rewards for eligible myWalgreens members receiving vaccinations.
Under the limited-time promotion, qualifying members may earn $15 in Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible purchases, along with an additional 10% back on qualifying purchases for a limited period.
Restrictions, exclusions, geographic limitations, and promotional deadlines apply. Customers should review the official terms before participating.
What About COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses?
Although influenza is the primary focus of the seasonal announcement, the Walgreens Flu Index also tracks COVID-19 and broader acute respiratory illness trends.
This distinction matters because several respiratory viruses can circulate simultaneously during the fall and winter months.
Influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and common cold viruses can produce overlapping symptoms, but their potential complications and recommended treatments differ.
Vaccination eligibility and recommendations also vary by disease, age, and individual health circumstances.
Readers should consult current CDC guidance and their healthcare providers when considering flu, COVID-19, or RSV vaccination.
The Bottom Line: Flu Season May Be Early, but Prevention Still Matters
The launch of the 2026–2027 Walgreens Flu Index offers another resource for Americans who want to monitor respiratory illness activity in their communities.
While Walgreens’ early findings suggest influenza activity is increasing sooner than in recent years, it is still too early to determine how severe the overall season will become.
The most important message for consumers is to prepare before respiratory illnesses become widespread.
Staying current with recommended vaccinations, practicing good hygiene, monitoring local illness trends, and seeking medical attention when appropriate can help reduce the risk of serious illness.
With flu activity already rising in some regions, now is a good time for families to review their seasonal health plans.
Related Links for Further Information
Walgreens Resources
- Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index — Interactive map showing respiratory illness activity across the United States.
- Walgreens Vaccination Scheduling — Schedule a flu vaccination or explore available vaccines.
Public Health Resources
- CDC Seasonal Influenza Information — Information about influenza symptoms, prevention, vaccination, and treatment.
- CDC FluView Surveillance — National influenza surveillance and weekly activity reports.
- CDC: Flu and People 65 Years and Older — Guidance for older adults and influenza vaccination.
- CDC Respiratory Illnesses — Prevention information for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Source: Walgreen Co., press release, October 21, 2026, Walgreens Launches 2026–2027 Flu Index as Activity Tracks Four Weeks Ahead of Recent Seasons.
Editor’s Note: This article summarizes information from Walgreens’ October 21, 2026, announcement. The reported early-season trends reflect the company’s findings at that time and are not a substitute for current CDC surveillance or medical advice. Readers should consult healthcare professionals about individual vaccination and treatment decisions.
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Health and Life Insurance
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Give Your Plan a Check-up
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Medicare Open Enrollment runs now through Dec. 7. Use this time to make sure your plan still fits your needs with these four steps.
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Give Your Plan a Check-up
(Feature Impact) Medicare Open Enrollment runs now through Dec. 7. Use this time to make sure your plan still fits your needs. Medicare.gov is your official source for Open Enrollment. Compare every Medicare health and drug plan available in your area. You can easily compare Medicare plan costs, side-by-side, by simply entering the prescription drugs you take. If you prefer to talk with someone, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, to review your options and get your questions answered.
Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
SOURCE:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
