The Health Benefits of Vitamin D (part 1)
Vitamin D is more than just a vitamin, it’s a fat-soluble steroid hormone precursor that impacts over 2,000 genes and expresses the way certain genes are either turned on or turned off (epigenetics), which can alter our overall health and vulnerability to disease.
Sunlight is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in immune, neurological and cognitive function, heart health, strong bones, hormone regulation, psychological health, and metabolism.
Just 10-30 minutes of daily sunlight has so many healing properties and significant health benefits: fights depression, strengthens immunity, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure, reduces risk of heart attack, stroke, autoimmune and cancer, balances hormones, happier mood, stronger bones, and even prolongs life! Our brains need light at the correct time of the day to set our biologic body clock and circadian rhythm.
According to a study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, over 70% of Caucasians and 97% of African-Americans in the U.S. have insufficient blood levels of vitamin D.
— Vitamin D deficiency linked to many symptoms, including headaches (mainly migraines).
— Vitamin D deficiency is particularly common in those with inflammatory conditions, bowel diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
— Vitamin D is an immune system regulator. The higher your vitamin D level, the lower your risk of getting a cold, the flu, and other respiratory tract infections.
Do you want to protect yourself and family from getting the flu? A daily dose of sunlight, supplemental vitamin D, Bio D Mulsion Forte, zinc, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and limit immune suppressors.
— Optimal vitamin D levels significantly reduce PSA levels in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
— Research from the Medical College of Georgia revealed that vitamin D is linked to maintaining a healthy body weight.
— Those with darker-colored skin
— Toxic chemical exposure (glyphosate, pesticides, heavy metals, BPA, phthalates, and other hormone-disrupting chemicals) that alter our biochemistry, negatively impact receptor sites and cause a variety of health problems
— Digestive dysfunction, GI problems, inflammatory bowel disorders and leaky gut inhibit absorption of vitamin D – some people’s digestive tracts are unable to absorb vitamin D due to certain health conditions such as Celiac disease, IBD, cystic fibrosis and Crohn’s disease.
— Sunlight deficiency. Inadequate sunlight exposure and sunscreen use. Our bodies produce vitamin D when the skin is exposed (without sunscreen) to sunlight. Our ability to absorb vitamin D from the sunlight diminishes as we age.
— Shift workers
— People spend more time indoors nowadays and are less exposed to sunlight
— Low intake of vitamin D-rich foods (and absorption issues). This especially applies to those following a strict vegetarian diet since food sources of vitamin D are highest in egg yolks, pastured butter, beef liver and wild fish
— Those with higher levels of belly fat, obesity and being overweight
— Genetic variations: mutations in the VDR (vitamin D receptor) gene restricts vitamin D from getting into the cell
— Age 50+ — Aging is associated with a reduced capacity to synthesize vitamin D in the skin upon sun exposure; a 70 year-old makes 4x less vitamin D in the skin from the sun than their former 20 year-old self.
— Kidney, liver and gallbladder dysfunction, those that have had their gallbladder removed. Those with fatty livers (non-alcoholic fatty liver) and chronic kidney disease
— Pregnancy, breast feeding
— Low magnesium status: without sufficient Mg levels you cannot properly metabolize vitamin D
Important to know for those who supplement with vitamin D: Magnesium is essential in the metabolism of vitamin D. Taking large doses of vitamin D can induce severe depletion of magnesium. Adequate magnesium supplementation (and fat soluble vitamins A, E and K) should be considered as an important aspect of vitamin D therapy.
★ Vitamin D Recommendations: What is a Healthy Vitamin D Level? (part 2)
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