Did you know that 50% of children living in the United States are at a high risk of being vitamin D deficient? And that three out of four Americans are deficient in vitamin D.
In fact, vitamin D deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world.
Understanding what vitamin D is and how it affects us, is the first step in understanding how to combat vitamin D deficiency.
According to Michael Holick Ph.D., M.D., the author of “The Vitamin D Solution,” vitamin D is actually a hormone that plays a central role in metabolism, muscle, cardiac, immune and neurological function.
Holick has devoted over 30 years to studies on vitamin D deficiency. He also states that vitamin D deficiency is not about the absence of drinking milk or taking supplements. While they help, those alone cannot give us adequate levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency mostly stems from the lack of adequate, regular, and sensible sun exposure without the use of sun block.
No sun block? What about the myth - skin cancer is caused by the sun?
Studies have shown that Melanoma “the deadly form of skin cancer” can occur in people who don’t spend time in the sun. Some other factors are; having a defective DNA repair system, weakened immune system, heredity (two or more people in the family with Melanoma,) people who have a large number moles and have had excessive sun exposure (sunburns).
How much time is sensible sun exposure?
First you must estimate the amount of time it takes in the sun to get a mild pinkness without sun block. Then expose your arms and legs for about 25-50 percent of that length of time. Do this two to three times per week. After getting this amount of sun exposure, then protect your skin with the use of a SPF 15-30 sunscreen. This will prevents over-exposure and lessen the risk of skin cancer.
In addition to sun exposure, taking an oral form of vitamin D is suggested. The over the counter supplement “D3” can be taken daily depending on how low your vitamin D levels are. Those who live in low sunlight areas like the North West need higher amounts of supplementation.
Vitamin D deficiency has its role in increasing children’s and adults’ development of deadly cancers, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Don’t increase your chances, educate yourself, be preventative, have your vitamin D levels checked, and always consult with a physician before taking any supplements.
At A Glance
The Vitamin D Solution;
http://www.drholicksdsolution.com/
Vitamin D myths facts and statistics;
http://www.naturalnews.com/003069.html
http://www.drholicksdsolution.com/
Vitamin D myths facts and statistics;
http://www.naturalnews.com/003069.html
Vitamin D3 safe dosage table:
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Vitamin D Set by the Institute of Medicine | |
Age Group | mcg/day (IU/day) |
Infants 0-6 months | 25 mcg (1,000 IU) |
Infants 6-12 months | 37.5 mcg (1,500 IU) |
Children 1-3 years | 62.5 mcg (2,500 IU) |
Children 4-8 years | 75 mcg (3,000 IU) |
Children 9-13 years | 100 mcg (4,000 IU) |
Adolescents 14-18 years | 100 mcg (4,000 IU) |
Adults 19 years and older | 100 mcg (4,000 IU) |
