Why Do We Need Vitamin D3 And Why The Big Hype?
All over the WORLD, including Sunny South Africa, Vitamin D deficiency is rampant, and mistakenly due to people’s belief, we do not get sufficient Vitamin D though Sun exposure or through our Foods.
Vitamin D gives us the biggest bang for your health care Rand due to the major protective and maintenance benefits we get from it.
Despite its name, it is not a vitamin but a powerful pro – hormone under the same umbrella as estrogen, progestesterone, testosterone and cortisol (This in itself says a lot). It is responsible for the regulation of over 3 000 genes out of the 30 000 in the human body, according to the genome study project (WOW). This is one of the primary reasons it influences so many diseases, from Cancer and Autism, Heart disease and Rheumatoid arthritis.
THE BENEFITS
It is well known that Vitamin D is important for Calcium absorption for bone heath and density as well as strong teeth. However the beneficial list goes on and on…
- Cancers, both preventative and cell restorative
- Obesity and or the control of weight
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Diabetes
- Hearing Loss and Eye diseases
- IBS, Crohn’s, Celiac
- Insomnia
- Psoriasis or Eczema
- Muscle pain
- Periodontal Diseases or cavities
- Anti- Aging
- Seizures
- Fertility
- Depression
- Improves Immunity due to it being a potent antibiotic
- Hair loss preventative
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Migraines
- Alzheimer’s
SOURCES
OUR SUN:
- Vitamin D3 (25-hydroxy vitamin D) – it’s the same substance produced naturally through your skin by sun exposure. It is a fat soluble hormone and is formed when the UVB rays is exposed to surface of the skin and it converts a derivative of cholesterol into Vitamin D3. That Vitamin D3 does not penetrate the blood stream immediately. New evidence shows that is takes up to 24 hours before its absorbed. CONCLUSION: Do not shower or bath with soap for 2 whole days. Riiiiight
- With humanity being so cautious and well educated with the dangers of sun exposure. We have been indoctrinated to lather ourselves with SPF, and factor 20 is no longer sufficient but rather a 50 these days. This largely blocks the rays which again helps with the conversion of cholesterol AND not to mention how we limit our outdoor activities.
CHOLESTOL:
Cholesterol is vital for our well-being and is not the enemy as we are led to believe. THE CHOLESTEROL THEORY HAS BEEN DEBUNKED.
OUR FOODS:
- Unfortunately we are limited with foods that contain Vitamin D. However the consumption of REAL FOODS such as Milk, Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Bacon, Beef Liver, Cheese, Eggs etc. are great sources. Fish Liver oils may be our best.
- FORTIFIED foods with the “ADDED Vitamins.” where food manufacturers are fortifying foods, such as yogurt, cereal, and orange juice. This was to help consumers fill the nutrient gap in their diets. However in my belief this no longer makes the food REAL and along with that comes other issues.
SUPPLEMENTATION:
2000 to 5000 IU of a good Vitamin D3 supplement for at least 3 months. Then check blood tests to see you are at optimal. The optimal range for general health appears to be somewhere between 50 and 70 ng/ml shown through your blood tests. As for as how to optimize your vitamin D levels, I firmly believe that appropriate sun exposure is the best way, failing to do so a good a wise Supplement D3 is needed. In fact, I personally take a vitamin D supplement and believe most should. . The best way is for testing is through the inexpensive blood tests that are now readily available.
SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU MAY BE VITAMIN D DEFICIENT
If any of these are resonating with you should get your vitamin D levels tested sooner rather than later.
- More of that sun tan or NOT. The darker your skin pigment the more it acts as a natural sunscreen and therefor you have the less Vitamin D3.
- You feel like you in a ‘Dark” place. As we know that a good dose of sun raises the feel good hormone, Serotonin.
- Mid-century or older. Aged skin doesn’t make as much Vitamin D from sun exposure, and especially when the elderly spend more time in doors than out. The kidneys also become less proficient.
- Overweight or Obese Vitamin D is a fat-soluble, hormone-like vitamin, which means body fat acts as a “sink” by collecting it. If you’re overweight or obese, you’re therefore likely going to need more vitamin D than a slimmer person
- Achy Breaky Bones Vitamin D deficiency can cause throbbing and aching bones due to calcium defectly being put into the collagen matrix of you skeleton.