You may know by now how much we prefer science and facts to anecdote and popular concepts. This one is an eye-opener.
A recent article on Mercola.com revealed the results of a study on Vitamin D in the US.
For years we have been told that it is easy to overdose on Vitamin D and that you must be careful not take too much. Wrong…
For years we have been advised to take other vitamins regularly with little emphasis on Vitamin D. Wrong…
For years we have been advised that getting sunlight on our skins enables our bodies to make all the Vitamin D we need. …But what about the rabid advice about protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful rays… This causes us to avoid sunlight, wear gobs of sunscreen and cover up…
95% of older and younger people in the US, and 85% of the rest of us are not getting enough vitamin D.
This hormone plays a huge role in the way your body functions.
Vitamin D Deficiency
There are all kinds of results from too little Vitamin D in our bodies, all bad. They include increased susceptibility to cancer, weakened immune system, more colds and flu, on and on…
Think about the impact of the seasons. In Summer you can get plenty of sunshine but in the Winter for those farther North this is almost impossible. Therefore Vitamin D levels are lowest in the Winter for all and worst for those farther North, JUST WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST…
Could this be why we have a colds and flu season??? Aren’t those viruses around all the time?
So How to Get Enough…and…How Much is Enough or Too Much?
The Guidelines printed by Mercola are as follows: Deficient if you have less than 50 ng/ml in your blood, Optimal is 50-65 ng/ml, Fighting Cancer is 65-90 ng/ml, Excess is over 100 ng/ml.
There are 3 ways to get vitamin D, make sure you are getting D3 not D2 which is ineffective:
1. Sunlight on your skin. The color of your skin, the location, time of year all help determine what is healthful for you. You need to expose at least 40% of your skin on a regular basis. Sun block does prevent sunburn but not cell damage and it blocks production of D. Overdoing sun exposure and burning your skin does not increase vitamin D production.
2. A tanning bed with lights that produce sunlight like rays.
3. Vitamin D3 supplementation.
It is very important that you monitor the levels of D3 in your blood. Mercola recommends 2-4 times a year to have your blood tested. In my recent blood test I had 38.3 ng/ml, even though I live in South Texas and get regular sun. I want to raise this level so I am taking 5,000 iu per day. (Everyone is different, you need to get a blood test. Fortunately you do not need a prescription to get this done by a local lab.)
Only Supplement with the Right Kind of Vitamin D
There is one other thing you need to be aware of if you choose to use an oral vitamin D supplement and that is that there are basically two types – one is natural and one is synthetic.
The natural one is D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the same vitamin D your body makes when exposed to sunshine.
The synthetic one is vitamin D2, which is sometimes called ergocalciferol
Once either form of the vitamin is in your body, it must be converted to a more active form. Vitamin D3 is converted 500 percent faster than vitamin D2, and is clearly a better alternative.
Vitamin D2 also has a shorter shelf life, and its metabolites bind with protein poorly, making it less effective. Studies have even concluded that vitamin D2 should no longer be regarded as a nutrient appropriate for supplementation or fortification of foods (although it continues to be used). So if you choose to use vitamin D supplements make sure it is in the form of vitamin D3.
Please be aware that nearly all the prescription-based supplements contain synthetic vitamin D2, so if you receive a prescription for vitamin D from your doctor, you’re most likely receiving the inferior vitamin D2.
Personally, I have chosen to supplement with about 5,000 iu of Vitamin D3 orally per day. I can report increased strength and stamina, more clear thinking, improved eyesight, harder nails and so far no colds or flu. I am a big believer.
D3 Supplements
D3 Supplements from 2 high quality sources that we can recommend:
Mercola.com has an oral spray of D3 with nano particles that you spray under your tongue 2 times a day. Each spray is about 1,000 iu, so 3 sprays each time, 20 seconds for each spray before swallowing, for 6,000 iu per day. (We have no affiliation or connection with Mercola, we make nothing from this recommendation)
Trace Minerals has a great tasting oral liquid. Take one teaspoon per day for 5,000 iu of D3. Keep the opened bottle in the fridge. This is the one I have chosen personally. It is simpler for me to remember once a day.(We have no affiliation or connection with Trace Minerals, we make nothing from this recommendation)
Please Don’t Wait, especially during the Winter Months when your levels of D3 are naturally lower than healthy levels.
(Please keep in mind that we are not professional health care providers. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.)
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