VITAMIN D

In the past we were cautioned against too much exposure to the sun because of its link to skin cancer and premature aging. The advertising to use sufficient sunscreen was substantial and quite rightly so. But the benefit of sun exposure is that it stimulates our skin to produce Vitamin D. After medical trials and pathology findings, the medical community is now stating that many of us have a serious deficiency of Vitamin D. This deficiency is greatly implicated in hypertension, depression, birth defects, muscle weakness, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D deficiency also promotes the onset of “The Big Three”: cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Vitamin D is technically a type of steroid hormone known as a pro-hormone because of its action in the body. It was first put on the map in 1922 by Sir Edward Mellanby although RIckets was known as a vitamin D deficiency back in the 17th Century. Many functions of vitamin D have been identified along the way but now the focus is on obtaining adequate levels and addressing the epidemic deficiency. If you do not go out in the sun often enough, research indicates the necessity to supplement with at least 5000 iu a day. To obtain this from milk you would need to drink 50 glasses, which, of course, is not recommended. The skin can make 10,000 iu of Vitamin D when exposed to the sun for 20-30 minutes
each day (depending on the angle of the sun in the sky), though of course great caution is needed with sun exposure.

The original RDA’s for vitamin D 
children 200iu
Adults up to 70 years 400iu
Adults over 70 600iu
Recommendations NOW
Below 5 yrs 35 iu per lb.daily
5-10 yrs 2500 iu
Adults 5000 iu

There are 3 ways to get your adequate daily Vitamin D:

1.                   Midday sun exposure while being careful not to burn –
this isn’t always practical.

2.                   Regular use of a safe sun bed during colder months time
– this can be time-consuming and expensive.

3.                   Take 5000 iu of Vitamin D per day for 2-3 months, then
have a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test.

So, you may ask, how can I find out my levels of vitamin D?
Vitamin D testing at Balance Westside Wellness involves a simple blood draw
and costs $35 if not already covered by our insurance.
If you find you are deficient then it is easy and quite affordable to take a
supplement either in drops, softgels, tablets, or capsules. Fortunately Vitamin
D is very affordable can can work out as less than 5¢/day. It is recommended
that you have another test after 3 months. The aim is to have a level of 50-80
ng/ml.

Facts to Know 
It can take 48 hrs before the vitamin D3 is absorbed into your skin from sun exposure. Therefore it is best not to shower with soap for 48 hrs. Water alone on sun exposed areas is OK.
You do not absorb vitamin D (made from UVB rays) behind glass e.g. in the car, in office, at home. But we need to be careful because you do absorb the UVA rays which actually destroys vit D and also creates oxidative stress
which can lead to skin cancer, aging of the skin.
If you have dark skin you would be required to have 12 times longer exposure to the sun. Vitamin is known to influence 2000 genes in our bodies.Vitamin D is a derivative of cholesterol so be careful your cholesterol does not get too low (especially if you are on statins) otherwise it will be impossible for your body to manufacture Vit D.

Vitamin D is shown to be helpful in:

·                     Optimizing weight loss

·                     Lowering blood pressure

·                     Pregnancy – preventing pre-eclampsia, autism

·                     Auto immune disease – MS, Crohn’s,Rheumatoid Arthritis, fighting infections, especially respiratory infections such as TB

·                     Improving skin conditions – eczema, psoriasis

·                     Hearing loss

·                     Muscle pain and weakness

·                     Macular degeneration

·                     Limiting depression, headaches

·                     Periodontal disease

·                     Enhancing athletic performance

·                     Cancer prevention and killing cancer cells

CANCER 
There is strong evidence now that shows Vitamin D’ s important role in the prevention of cancer. It does this by basically inhibiting the cancer cells to proliferate. I has been hournaled that 75% of breast and colon cancer can be prevented with sufficient levels of Vitamin D. Laboratory evidence also shows a deficiency to be associated with prostate and skin cancer too.

DIABETES 
Strong evidence from Dr Sarfraz Zaidi at the Jamila Diabetes Center shows direct association of Vitamin D deficiency in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes develops because of a malfunction in the immune system.
Vitamin D plays a huge role in the normal functioning of the immune system and when it breaks down, your immune system begins to attack your own cells. For diabetes this would be the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Lack of Vitamin D affects all other autoimmune diseases for the same reason. Those people with low Vitamin D are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 
Numerous studies have found that many people with a form of cardiovascular disease were low in Vitamin D. It can start with high blood pressure, arthrosclerosis, or the actual heart malfunction. “Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, above and beyond established cardiovascular risk factors,” said Thomas J. Wang, M.D.,
assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. As you can see, Vitamin D has a vital role in our health. A simple blood test and, if deficient, simple ways in increasing your levels could prevent onset of disease and in some cases even death.