Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
February 24, 2012 6 Comments
Last week, I finally arrived back at home from my lengthy trip to Florida. During my time there, I visited with my grandfather and my in-laws. It was really nice to spend quality time with them, but it was more than lovely to be away from the cold New York winter. One reason I enjoy getting some sunshine is because I get to take a few less pills. I’m talking about vitamin D. When I don’t get any sun, I usually take about 6 thousand IU. I reduce that amount based on how much sunshine I get in a given day.
You might be wondering why I take so much. It’s because I found out that I was pretty severely deficient, and I don’t want that to happen again. I have some other medical issues that may have contributed to my deficiency, but it’s mostly from lack of sunlight. I know this because most of this country is deficient in vitamin D, whether they know it or not.
I was glad the topic of vitamins came up during one of my conversations with my grandfather because I wanted to know if he was supplementing with vitamin D. He wasn’t. You might think that’s okay because he’s in Florida, but it’s really not. You see, as we get older, our bodies become less efficient at producing vitamins from sunshine – and, he’s only in Florida for half of the year.
Well, it turns out that a few weeks earlier, his doctor told him he was deficient in D and needed to supplement. I don’t know whether he disregarded the advice or just forgot, but after our conversation, he went out and got some vitamin D – and he’s been taking it religiously ever since.
Vitamin D is involved in so many bodily processes, so having enough is really crucial to overall health. It’ll keep your immune system stronger in general, but another important function of vitamin D is to keep you bones healthy. It does this by helping your body absorb calcium. Without vitamin D, it doesn’t matter how much calcium you consume because your body can’t use it. It’s been confirmed; getting enough vitamin D everyday will very likely result in fewer trips to the doctor. Sure, you won’t get to see that medical assistant you’ve been crushing on, but your body will be in much better shape.
According to the Vitamin D Council, every adult should be getting at least 5 thousand IU of this vitamin (don’t worry; they’re teeny tiny pills).
Did you get your fill of vitamin D today?
Making the Fitness Grade 
While sunlight is the best way, unfortunately as we are covered up your body will still not produce enough. There was a study done on day laborers working in the sun that were found to still be Vitamin D deficient. We’ve written up on this over at http://examine.com/supplements/Vitamin+D/
It’s true; and sunblock also blocks vitamin D absorption. I’m not a big advocate of popping pills, but vitamin D is one we really can’t do without. I just wish more people knew about it.
Yup – even though we cover over 100 supplements on our site (almost 3000 unique references), Vitamin D and FIsh Oil (unless eating fatty fish) are the only ones we recommend for everyone.
Vitamin D has also been shown to reduce the symptoms and severity of diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Sara from http://www.losingtogether.com
8000 IUs in capsule form and then 14 pines of fish every day… I think I’m covered, no?
Oh, I’d say so! 🙂