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Are You Suffering From a Vitamin D Deficiency?
There is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency sweeping the globe, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Vitamin D deficiency is not only scarily wide-spread – it is also the root cause for many other serious diseases including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease.
A recent study has shown that 59 per cent of the population is vitamin deficient. Additionally, 25 per cent of the study subjects were found to have extremely low levels of vitamin D.
Dr. Richard Kremer, lead author of the study, said “Abnormal levels of vitamin D are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
This recent study also shows a clear link between vitamin D deficiency and stored body fat. Essentially, adequate vitamin D actually promotes body fat loss.
Other recent research performed at the University of Copenhagen has shown that vitamin D also activates the immune system by ‘arming’ T cells to fight off infections.
This research, led by Professor Carsten Geisler, found that without vitamin D, the immune system’s T cells remain dormant, offering little or no protection against invading microorganisms and viruses.
What has become increasingly clear in recent years and from all the new research is that vitamin D deficiency may be the common denominator behind our most devastating modern degenerative diseases.
Illnesses and diseases like heart disease, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, hypertension, arthritis, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, PMS, Crohn’s Disease, cancer, MS and other autoimmune diseases have all been attributed to a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency can also cause stroke, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting and birth defects.
Why are we so deficient?
There a number of reasons why the vitamin D deficiency rate is so high. These include:
Sedentary lifestyles – We spend more time indoors than outside, lowering our exposure to the sun.
Sun protection – It’s true that too much sun can be bad for you, however we have taken our protection methods to the extreme. Covering ourselves in sunscreen, clothing and hats reduces our exposure to the sun, thus reducing our vitamin D intake. Small amounts of time in the sun (think 10 minutes) is enough to begin converting vitamin D.
Weather and climate – Your vitamin D intake is highly dependent on where you live, the amount of sun and even cloud cover. In colder, cloudy places, vitamin D exposure is generally quite low.
Skin colour/origin – Darker-skinned people need higher amounts of sun exposure and vitamin D to function due to the penetration through the melanin in the skin.
Other people at risk of vitamin D deficiency year-round include:
- The elderly
- Those covered extensively by clothing or veils
- Those with gut absorption problems
- Those with chronic renal and liver disease
- Those taking certain medications
- Those with increased body fat content
Everyday we need at least 10 minutes of sun to start to convert vitamin D. However just to confuse the matter, we need to get the right type of sun exposure for this to be beneficial.
As a general rule, if your shadow is longer that you are tall, you’re not getting enough vitamin D. So, in other words, when the sun is low, it’s not the right type of sun for vitamin D conversion. Generally, the middle-of-the-day sun is the best time.
Despite our best efforts, most of will fail to achieve the required level of vitamin D needed to promote and maintain good health. This is where supplementation comes in.
Choosing the Right Supplement
There are literally thousands of vitamin D supplements available. It’s easy to grab a supplement off the supermarket shelf, however picking the right one is a different matter.
First thing’s first. There are two primary types of vitamin D. These are vitamin D2, known as ergocalciferol, and D3, known as cholecalciferol.
Vitamin D2 is made by invertebrate species and plants when they’re exposed to direct sunlight.
Vitamin D3 is made from precursors found on the skin surface of vertebrates, including humans, when sun strikes the skin’s surface.
Although both types of vitamin D are present in the blood, studies suggest that the D3 or cholecalciferol form is the more beneficial form in terms of human health.
Most supermarket and pharmacy-bought supplements are simply not strong enough, or contain the wrong type of vitamin D. Investing in a premium, scientifically researched formula will ensure you are getting the best vitamin D supplement for your money and for your health.
So How Much Vitamin D is Enough?
If you listened to the Recommended Daily Intake’s from the Australia Government, we should be getting:
- 200 IU for adults up to 50 years of age
- 400 IU for those 51-70 years of age
- 600 IU for those over 70 years
Unfortunately, this is way too low. The Government must err on the side of caution, and have presumed that the only way to get vitamin D is to sit in the sun. Given that their focus is on skin cancer risk and their limited amount of research into optimal vitamin D levels, these levels are just too low.
Recent research and trials performed by Connell JJ in 2008 have shown that ideal vitamin D levels should be around 100 nmol/L – 175 nmol/L. Translated, this means we need to be receiving around 2000 – 3000 IU of vitamin D per day (and this is being conservative!)
Not only would a higher intake boost our blood vitamin D levels, it would also help to reduce disease, illness and the economic burden of disease.
Not only would a higher intake boost our blood vitamin D levels, it would also help to reduce disease, illness and the economic burden of disease. |
In terms of supplementation, this means that we need to be taking at least 3000 IU a day of Cholecalciferol. As an example, BioCeuticals Vitamin D3 contains 1000IU in each capsule. So only 3 capsules a day can provide you with optimal vitamin D levels for good health, reduced chance of illness and disease, and increased energy!
But Wait….
Before you rush out and buy the first Vitamin D3 supplement you can find, you should get your vitamin D level tested. We are all different, and we all absorb different amounts of vitamin D. A Vitamin D Level Test will show your exact vitamin D levels, and give us a good indication of whether or not you need supplementation, and how much. To read more about this life-changing test, click here.
At the End of the Day…
Increasing your vitamin D levels can dramatically change the way you feel. Not only will optimal levels provide you with greater immunity, less chance of illness or disease and more energy – it will also help to ‘clear the fog’ in your head by boosting serotonin levels.
There really isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t be getting more vitamin D.
Over the coming weeks, we will be bringing you some more articles about vitamin D, and the dramatic impact it has on your health and well-being. Keep an eye out for these articles, and help yourself (and your family) achieve better health.
Further Reading:
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