Why You Need Vitamin D

By: Administration
Professionals who understand nutrition have proclaimed that Vitamin D deficiency is epidemic! But what is Vitamin D? It is a group of fat soluable vitamins. The two major forms of Vitamin D are D-2 (also known as ergocalciferol if you are into biology) and D-3 (cholecalciferol). D-2 is synthesized by plants. D-3 is synthesized by humans in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet-b rays of sunlight.

Vitamin D is essential for your body! For more than a century, scientists believed it played a vital role in bone health. It functions to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. It promotes calcium absorption in the gut. This is important because it enables healthy mineralization of bones and healthy bone growth. Humans cannot digest calcium without Vitamin D-3.

Does Vitamin D make you smarter? Some researchers say “yes!” 1.

But Vitamin D does so much more! It also assists your immune system. It does this through cellar differentiation which leads to decreased proliferation. Stay with me here, this is really pretty simple. Proliferation in general is good as it helps wounds heal. But uncontrolled proliferation of cells may lead to cancer. Vitamin D inhibits the bad proliferation and stimulates differentiation.

Classical Vitamin D deficiencies include adults who complain of dull and achy musculoskeletal pain. Such pain is usually unresponsive to both pharmaceutical and manual treatments. Also among children deprived of Vitamin D is the classical case of rickets.

But did you know Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the following conditions?

High blood pressure

Fibromyalgia

Diabetes

Multiple sclerosis

Rheumatoid arthritis

An increased risk of pre-eclampsia and insulin resistance during pregnancy

Increased risk of early age-related macular degeneration. 2-5

Researchers who have no financial interest in supplements are pleading with people to get more Vitamin D. 6. So how do you get Vitamin D? Getting 10-20 minutes of sunlight helps. I heard one professional suggest (tongue-in-cheek) that people get their D by sunning nude for 15-20 minutes. No thanks J. Experts argue that sunlight does not give you enough D and many people are concerned about skin cancer. Besides, as we age, we are less equipped to produce sufficient quantities of D. If you think tanning beds are the answer, sorry. Tanning beds do not provide D-3.

Most foods do not have adequate D. Consequently it is supplemented with D. Unfortunately manufacturers keep their costs down by using the less expensive form, synthetic D-2. This will never work because our bodies will never absorb the synthetic as well as a natural vitamin and we need D-3. If you want to eat your D try cold water fish. Wild salmon, mackerel, and sardines are good. Egg yolks are also a source. Unfortunately I also hear nutritionists say to avoid the fish because of heavy metals and avoid egg yolks because of the fat.

Personally I recommend GBG’s 10-In-One Liquid Multi Formula. It has an excellent source of D-3. Your body will absorb it better than any synthetic vitamin made in a laboratory and it is a complete phytonutreint/antioxidant blend that tastes good.

This article is not meant to treat or diagnose any illnesses or medical conditions.

Resources

1. Przybelski RJ, Binkley NC. Is Vitamin D Important For Preserving Cognition? A Positive Correlation Of Serum 25-Hyroxy Vitamin D Concentration With Cognitive Function. Arch bioChem Biophys. 2007 Apr 15; 460(2): 202-5.

2. Vieth R, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Beucher BJ, Dawson-Hughes B, Gruland CF, Heany RP, Holick MF. The Urgent Need To Recommend An Intake Of Vitamin D That Is Effective. American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, March 2007; 85(3): 649-650

3. Badnar Lm, Captov JM, Simhan HN, Holick MF, Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Risk Of Preeclamsia, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 May 29.

4. Maghbooli Z, Hossein-Nezhad A, Karini F, Shafaei AR, Larijani B. Correlation Between Vitamin D(3) Deficiency And Insulin resistance In Pregnancy. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2007 Jul 2.

5. Parekh n, Chappell Rj, Millen AE, Albert DM, Mares JA. Association Between Vitamin D and Age Related Macular Degeneration In The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 Through 1994. Arch Ophthalmol. May 2007; 125:661-669

6. Lappe J, tavers-Gustafson D, Davies K, Recker R, Heany R. Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation Reduces Cancer Risk: Results Of A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. June 8: 85(6): 1586-1591.

7. Holick MF, Vitamin D: Importance In Prevention Of Cancers, Type 1 Diabetes, Heart Disease, And Osteoporsis. AM J Clin Nutr. 2004: 79(3): 362-371.