Vitamin D - Improve Your Health in 30 days

Vitamin D once considered "just a fat soluble vitamin" is now being considered one of the most important supplements one can take and one of the most nutritionally deficient compounds in the body.

First, a little information about Vitamin D. Vitamin D is not a vitamin but actually a hormone with a host of purposes and benefits. Typically as we all know Vitamin D is made in our bodies by absorbing sunlight. Exposure to sun for about 20 minutes a day on the body can produce as much as 10,000 IU’s of Vitamin D. The problem is most of us are very inconsistent with our sun exposure and getting sun on the weekends is not going to cut it. Also, there are other factors such as where you live, pollution levels and time of year. Secondly, you need to have ¾ of your body exposed to the sun for the best absorption along. Wearing Sunglasses and sunscreen reduces your uptake of Vitamin D.

Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more.

The problem is we spend so much time inside that we must begin to supplement with vitamin D to get the necessary amount. Supplementation seems to be the only way, there are very few foods that contain enough vitamin D. Milk is not the ideal choice you would have to drink as much as 50 glasses of milk to get the recommended 5000 IU’s a day.

How do you know if you need it? First, it has been reported that as high as 75% of people of deficient in Vitamin D, chance are you are too. Second, you can order a blood test. I have recently partnered with Physician’s Lab Co-Op to provide reliable lab testing to my patients at a very low cost and the lab work is performed at Lab Corp here in Asheville. Lab Tests are crucial for Vitamin D for a number of reasons: first in order to properly supplement with Vitamin D you need to know where you are to begin with, secondly people process and absorb Vitamin D differently; thirdly the overall health of your digestive track will determine how well you absorb D.

So how much should you take? This varies from each person and that is why a blood test would be more specific, but if you want to get started right away most studies suggest using 5000 IU’s per day. Toxic levels are not reached until you consume more that 20,000 IU’s per day for several months. It also needs to be the D3 as cholecalciferol to be properly absorbed, be sure you check this on your supplement bottle.

Lets Recap:

Get Your Vitamin D Level Tested, I order these on a regular basis at my office for around $30

Vitamin D is deficient in virtually everyone

Vitamin D council recommends 5000 IU’s per day

Buy the D3 form, gel caps are best

It is safe and affordable

It may prevent a host of diseases such as: the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, prevents the colds/flu and upper respiratory conditions in children.

You want to lose fat and gain muscle… Take Vitamin D

The best sources to find the most info on Vitamin D and where I got my info are: www.vitamindcouncil.org www.vitamindhealth.org