The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is a hot topic right now as more and more research points to its importance on our health and wellbeing.  Vitamin D deficiencies are a growing epidemic around the world and contribute to many chronic diseases.  Why? One reason may be that we’ve been taught to fear sun exposure, spend less time in the sun, and when we do slather ourselves with sunscreens that are often loaded with toxic cancer causing ingredients!

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin” is produced by the skin when exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays from sunlight.  The natural form of vitamin D is cholecalciferol, is not really a vitamin but a prohormone that your body actually produces from cholesterol.  Vitamin D3 benefits much more than your bones; it stands in a class by itself as it targets over 2000 genes in the human body, has receptors in the brain, and is an important immune system regulator. Learn more at http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Why is Vitamin D a hot topic?

Many healthcare providers see that Vitamin D is one of our most important nutrients with numerous benefits. Dr. Mercola says “I believe optimizing your vitamin D levels may be one of the simplest, most effective ways you can significantly improve your health.” Vitamin D insufficiencies have been linked to:

• Asthma and other lung diseases
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Depression
• Hearts disease
• Chronic pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Neurological diseases
• Cancer (doubles the risk)
• Diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases
• And other health challenges

Vitamin D also plays an important role in activating your immune defense against infectious diseases like the flu.  As we will again soon start hearing much about the upcoming flu season now is the time to make sure you are not deficient in vitamin D for the best protection.

What You can do!

You know my credo by now: Good health is a choice that YOU can make today. Below are three actions that you can choose:

1. Let the sunshine warm a large portion of your body for at least 15 minutes per day. That’s all it takes for your body to generate Vitamin D3 in your skin, however, that still may not be sufficient. Of most importance though, do not burn your skin!
2. Increase the amounts of Vitamin D in your diet. Oily fish, organ meats, cod liver oil, animal fats, and whole eggs are good sources.
3. Find out what your Vitamin D level is by getting your blood levels checked.  Nourishing Wellness now offers 25-OH Vitamin D testing at a very reasonable price and is billable to your insurance. This test is currently the only way to tell if you have or are taking the correct amount of Vitamin D3. Contact us to find out more. (link)

 

Vitamin D Dose Recommendations
Below 5	35 units per pound per day
Age 5 – 10	2500 units
Adults	5000 units
Pregnant Women	5000 units
WARNING: There is no way to know if the above recommendations are correct. The ONLY way to know is to test your blood. You might need 4-5 times the amount recommended above. Ideally your blood level of 25 OH D should be 60ng/ml.

 

To learn more visit www. www.vitamindcouncil.org or www.mercola.com