Vitamin D is a type of nutrient that our bodies need to stay healthy. It helps our bones become strong and supports our immune system. We can get
vitamin D from sunlight, certain foods, and supplements.
Full definition
It actually increases the biological half life
of vitamin D levels in your body.
Since most rapid bone growth occurs during the adolescent years, it is vital that teenagers have sufficient levels of
vitamin D in order to achieve peak bone mass by late adolescence.
Individuals who are 50 years or older should be tested
for vitamin D deficiency.
Those most at risk for
low Vitamin D levels include people who are older, have diabetes or kidney disease, stay indoors, are obese or have darker skin.
Nursing mothers should check with their doctors to ensure that they are not
vitamin D deficient.
Actually, it's hard for anyone — adults included — to get
enough vitamin D from food, as sunlight is the major source.
In the adjusted analysis, juice consumption showed no effect
on vitamin D deficiency in toddlers.
Studies show that higher
vitamin D intake by pregnant moms reduces their baby's risk of asthma by 40 percent.
As we point out later in this profile, however, many people will want to consult with their healthcare provider when making decisions about
vitamin D status.
The body absolutely
needs Vitamin D from the sun or supplementation of vitamin D3 to function optimally.
Scientists believe the gene that causes red hair is an evolutionary response to cloudy skies and allows inhabitants to get as
much Vitamin D as possible.
Just be sure to choose the ones that grow in natural - setting with ample sunlight — this ensures
adequate vitamin D production by the mushrooms.
In the kidneys the hormone stops the release of calcium through the urine, while also increasing
vitamin D production.
According to several studies,
increased vitamin D intake lowers blood pressure and helps to regulate insulin.
For years, I have recommended that everybody who takes
vitamin D also take K2.
However, many of the clinical protocols also
included vitamin D supplements, making it difficult to discern the relative benefits of the 2 treatments.
The distribution of
vitamin D receptors in the brain is also concentrated in the parts of the brain responsible for memory.
Plus, with all of the extra vitamins
like vitamin D, B12, and zinc, it is a wonder why parents are not feeding their babies eggs all the time.
As described above, T cells which are an important part of the immune system, are properly activated
by vitamin D.
More and more studies are finding a very strong link
between Vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance.
We suggest taking 1,200 to 2,000 international units of
Vitamin D daily, and limiting sun exposure to early morning or late afternoon, when sun rays are not at their peak.
Taking a single vitamin or nutrient in isolation is a practice that should be used with caution especially with
Vitamin D which is fat soluble and can result in blood levels that are toxic.
Not only that, fats provide essential building blocks to produce
vitamin D when sunlight hits your skin.
But since many people do not get enough
vitamin D through their diet alone, the dark winter months can leave people deficient in the vitamin.
Therefore, whether higher amounts are needed in infants with lower
vitamin D at birth still needs to be clarified.
It is unclear, however, if bringing low
vitamin D blood levels to normal through supplementation will affect progression to diabetes.
Should you be concerned about him getting enough
Vitamin D during the winter months or if he spends his days indoors?
Accordingly, he advocates eating large amounts of colored vegetables containing beta carotene and either sunlight or D3 supplements as needed to provide
sufficient Vitamin D stores.
Anyone at high latitudes makes far less
vitamin D per minute of sun exposure.
The increase in testosterone was significantly higher compared to the weight reduction group
without vitamin D supplementation.