Vitamin D Deficiency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjZl6o7Xy5Q

We tend to become more and more house-bound and avoid sun exposure especially as we get older, so our skin gets thinner and less efficient at converting cholesterol to Vitamin D.

Not only that we prevent sunrays from penetrating our body system to be converted by our liver into Vitamin D but we’re keeping ourselves away from tremendous health benefits like preventing Osteoporosis, depression and cancer; purifying our body, helping to prevent high blood pressure, cold and flu and multiple sclerosis.

Sun appears daily in our life to lighten up our world. This is a reality. It’s a must for every being on earth; human, animal and plants. It gives energy, without it there would be no life: if there’s no sunlight there would be no food to grow; it is a necessity for the body to function and obtain energy.

Over the last several decades the public has been led to believe that exposure to sunlight is harmful. We’ve been told to avoid sunlight and slather on sunscreen every day before sun exposure.

Sunlight produces UVA and UVB rays. It is the UVA rays that are responsible for vitamin D production in your body. So it is now recommended to allow the sun to shine on your skin for at least 20 to 30 minutes before putting on any sunscreens. It is impossible to get too much vitamin D from the sun.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation.

The intensity of UVB rays is also reduced by clouds, pollution and UVB will not travel through glass, so sitting next to a window will not give you enough sunlight to make vitamin D.

Source of V.D: There are food sources for vitamin D such as salmon, cod liver oil and fortified foods but researchers are now showing this is not enough. Supplementation is recommended, especially in the winter months. Most supplements may or may not be strong enough and some individuals are sensitive to vitamin D supplements.

Sources/Adapted:

• National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D.” Updated May 2008
• http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind/
• http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/sunlight.htm
• Miracle Vitamin You’ll Want Plenty Of This winter e-newsletter, Promolife.com
• David Williams Vol 13 No 7 p 51
• (Dr. Davide Williams Vol 13, N 5)

Disclaimer: Statements made are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It’s for educational information only. Any recommendations are not intended to replace the advice of your physician.