Vitamin D deficiency linked to serious illnesses

Vitamin D deficiency linked to serious illnesses

Courtesy of Yavapai Regional Medical Center Although Vitamin D is commonly called the "sunshine" vitamin, it is actually a steroid hormone, not an essential dietary vitamin. An essential dietary vitamin is something that an organism cannot produce on its own and must get from a dietary source. Vitamin D is found in few dietary sources, however. For most people, sunlight exposure is the primary source of vitamin D, other than supplements. Vitamin D was originally thought to play a role only in the mineralization of bones and teeth by maintaining the correct phosphorous/calcium ratio. Over time, though, research has linked low vitamin D levels with other problems, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis and cancer. According to a report released by the CDC in 2006, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin D. One percent of the population has Vitamin D levels low enough to be considered imminently harmful. There are many theories as to why this is happening. One is that Americans today do not spend as much time outdoors as they did in generations past. In Arizona, our 300 days of sunshine every year provides plenty of opportunity to soak up the sun. Those who do get plenty of sun, however, tend to slather on the sunscreen for protection against skin cancer. The problem is, sunscreen inhibits UVB rays (the rays responsible for suntans) from penetrating the skin. Without those UVB rays, vitamin D cannot be naturally produced. Other factors also impact upon how much UVB rays reach the skin. Factors such as time of day, the season, the altitude, the latitude and more make a difference in the natural production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D levels can become especially depleted during the winter months when we stay inside more and the sun is not as intense. A growing amount of research links depression to Vitamin D levels but results are mixed. Research does seem to show a link between low levels of vitamin D and symptoms of depression. However, it's unclear whether low vitamin D levels cause depression, or whether depression results in low vitamin D levels. Here are a few important things to note: • The healing properties of natural sunlight cannot penetrate glass. You cannot reap the Vitamin D benefits of sunshine while sitting inside your home or car. You must go outside. • Darker-skinned individuals can require as much as 25 times more exposure time as a light skinned person to get the same amount of vitamin D. • Unless your body has sufficient levels of vitamin D, it cannot absorb calcium no matter how much calcium you take. • If you are diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency, it will take months of adequate sunlight and/or supplements to return your body to normal levels. • Kidney disease or liver damage will hinder your body's ability to activate vitamin D when needed. Have your vitamin D level checked by a simple blood test. High quality Vitamin D supplements can be found at www.opc411.com. Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 Despite the fact that there are many vitamin D supplements to choose from, Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 proves that all supplements are not created equal. By being the first of its kind to combine vitamin D with vitamin K2 in an isotonic form, this product supports vascular health and calcium utilization. By enhancing vitamin D's role in bone health, heart health and immune support, the addition of vitamin K also helps to support normal calcium absorption and the promotion of healthy arteries. OPC411.com