THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN D

       Vitamin D is necessary to maintain bone health.  Few foods naturally contain significant levels of vitamin D.  In order to get adequate vitamin D through diet alone, two servings of fatty fish would have to be consumed every day. Therefore it is important to increase vitamin D in the body through sufficient sun exposure and supplements in order to use the sunshine vitamin's full potential for maintaining proper body functioning.

 

 

 

      Vitamin D is not a stand-alone vitamin. To perform many functions, vitamin D works with other vitamins like magnesium, found in leafy green vegetables. This unique characteristic of vitamin D has contributed to the management of many chronic illnesses.  In the past, health care professionals thought vitamin D only kept bones and teeth healthy.  Research has put this vitamin in the spotlight by revealing its multifaceted role in the proper functioning of the human body and its ability to lower the risk of illnesses not formerly associated with it.  The current lifestyle of working indoors has contributed to the growing number of vitamin D deficiency cases worldwide. This is compounded by the fact that not everyone is aware that he or she may be vitamin D deficient.  The best way to discover vitamin D deficiency is to take a blood test that will measure the level of the vitamin in your blood.  You are certainly vitamin D deficient if you have any of the following ailments, and you need to consult with your doctor regarding your preventive and curative options as soon as possible.

 
1) Flu - Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory diseases. An intervention study conducted showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children. 2) Muscle Weakness - According to Michael F. Holick, a leading vitamin D expert, muscle weakness is usually caused by vitamin D deficiency because for skeletal muscles to function properly, their vitamin D receptors must be sustained by vitamin D. 3) Psoriasis - In a study published by the UK PubMed central, it was discovered that synthetic vitamin D analogues were found useful in the treatment of psoriasis. 4) Chronic Kidney Disease - According to Holick, patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases (especially those requiring dialysis) are unable to make the active form of vitamin D. These individuals need to take 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or one of its calcemic analogues to support calcium metabolism, decrease the risk of renal bone disease and regulate parathyroid hormone levels. 5) Diabetes - A study conducted in Finland in which 10,366 children were given 2000 international units (IU)/day of vitamin D3 per day during their first day of life. The children were monitored for 31 years and in all of them, the risk of type 1 diabetes was reduced by 80 percent. 6) Asthma - Vitamin D may reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Research conducted in Japan revealed that asthma attacks in school children were significantly lowered in those subjects taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 1200 IU a day. 7) Periodontal disease - Those suffering from this chronic gum disease that causes swelling and bleeding gums should consider raising their vitamin D levels to produce defensins and cathelicidin, compounds that contain microbial properties and lower the number of bacteria in the mouth. 8) Cardiovascular disease - Congestive heart failure is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Research conducted at Harvard University among nurses found that women with low vitamin D levels had a 67 percent increased risk of developing hypertension. 9) Schizophrenia and Depression - These disorders have been linked to vitamin D deficiency. In a study, it was discovered that maintaining sufficient vitamin D among pregnant women and during childhood was necessary to satisfy the vitamin D receptor in the brain integral for brain development and mental function in later life. 10) Cancer - Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC discovered a connection between high vitamin D intake and reduced risk of breast cancer. These findings revealed that increased doses of the sunshine vitamin were linked to a 75 percent reduction in overall cancer growth and 50 percent reduction in tumor cases among those already having the disease. Of interest was the capacity of vitamin supplementation to help control the development and growth of breast cancer especially estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. Prevention is Proactive - A proactive approach to prevention can assist in the avoidance of the many chronic diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency. 

 Vitamin D foods:  Salmon,  Tuna,  Sardines,  Egg yolks,  Swiss Cheese,  Liver,  Sun grown mushrooms and sunshine!

Sunscreen Accelerates Cancer and Blocks Vitamin D GenerationExcerpts from an article by Joe Martino       The sun has never ever been linked to solely causing skin cancer. This myth was brought forward by the sunscreen industry, dermatologists and the cancer industry.If you don’t use sunscreen your skin may burn. I say may because not everyone’s skin will burn. It depends on the health of your skin. If you are deficient in antioxidants and vitamin B, you are much more likely to get a sunburn as your skin is not healthy enough to take in the UV rays properly. Those with darker skin are able to have their skin act as a built in sunscreen.      Get your body well maintained with proper high quality nutrients, specifically vitamin B and antioxidants. Most diets contain eating a lot of acidic foods, fried-meats, heavy dairy products, fast foods and acidic pop. This is a perfect reason as to why many people will get burned in the sun. Their diets don’t contain healthy foods and their skin isn’t nutrient dense enough.      Sunscreen blocks the bodies ability to generate any vitamin D from the sun. Not only does it have a boatload of chemicals in it, it makes you vitamin deficient. There are easy natural ways of protecting your skin, why use chemicals that cause cancer and make you vitamin deficient?      Vitamin D is a very important nutrient to have proper amounts of in your body as it is responsible for the decrease of 4 out of 5 cancers of every kind as well as many other diseases when levels are properly maintained in the body.  Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit, released their annual report that nearly half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate. The FDA has known about the dangers of vitamin A in sunscreens since ordering a study 10 years ago, but has done nothing to alert the public of the dangers. “Retinyl palmitate was selected by (FDA’s) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for photo-toxicity and photocarcinogenicity testing based on the widespread use of this compound in cosmetic products for use on sun-exposed skin,” said an October 2000 report by the National Toxicology Program.According to AOL news, other problems with sunscreens include the use of the hormone-disrupting chemical oxybenzone, which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream, overstated claims about performance, and the lack of needed regulations and oversight by the Food and Drug Administration. Homemade Sunscreen  Zinc Oxide has long been used as an effective and inexpensive sunscreen. Slathered on thick and full strength, it offers excellent sun protection. This is an alternative to the harsh chemicals in store bought sunscreen. Keep in mind that you need to apply this sunscreen more often than commercial sunscreen. 1 teaspoon zinc oxide (available at the pharmacy)1 tablespoon olive oilMeasure the zinc oxide and olive oil into a bowl and use a fork to mix the ingredients together completely. Oils and Their Natural Sunscreen Power SPF Red Raspberry Seed Oil SPF 28-5Carrot Seed Oil SPF 38-40Wheat Germ Oil SPF 20Avocado Oil SPF 4-15Coconut Oil SPF 2-8Olive Oil SPF 2-8 Shea Butter SPF 3-6Castor Oil SPF 6Macadamia Nut SPF 6Almond Oil SPF 5Jojoba Oil SPF 4Sesame Seed Oil SPF 2-4