Here is part 2 of Remember When the Sun Was Our Friend?
I don’t believe in miracles. When you look at the available information, though, Vitamin D comes close – if it lives up to these expectations.
Here are four ways that you could benefit from this simple supplement.
1. Framework, Our Building Blocks
The framework of our bodies are our bones. The parts that hold bones together are muscles and cartilege among others.
Calcium still gets credit as the hardest worker in maintaining strong bones. But if you go to the drug store (or wherever you go) and look for calcium supplements, you may notice something that is a recent addition to those bottles. They will more than likely say Calcium + Vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin is the delivery boy that brings calcium to the bones. It aids your bones in absorbing the calcium and staying strong. Second in line for bone building is phosphorus and, you guessed it, D is right there helping your bones absorb that, too.
Your muscles aren’t out there on their own. D is helping them stay strong, too. According to Consumer Reports OnHealth, muscle tissue is dense with Vitamin D receptors and low levels of the nutrient have been associated with reduced strength.
2. Protecting Your Heart
“Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, above and beyond established cardiovascular risk factors,” said Thomas J. Wang, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. “The higher risk associated with vitamin D deficiency was particularly evident among individuals with high blood pressure.” American Heart Association
There have been studies that have contradicted this information, so it is currently more controversial than others. As I researched this article, I found more evidence to support than deny the claim.
3. Neurocognitive Health
There have been studies that have demonstrated an increased risk of depression in people with low levels of D. The brain is another organ that contains many D receptors, and studies with Boomers, you and I, have provided evidence of both the connection to depression and more basically, less than optiman brain functioning.
4. Alzheimer’s Disease
No one goes yippity skippity towards Alzheimer’s, and of late, there has been news of advances in treatment, albeit, not as hopeful as we all would like. The good news is that even those with the syndrome, patients with sufficient D in their blood stream scored higher in exams of mental condition. That’s hopeful.
5. Cancer Prevention
In 2005, scientists released a metastudy which demonstrated a beneficial correlation between vitamin D intake and prevention of cancer. Drawing from a meta-analysis of 63 published reports, the authors showed that intake of an additional 1,000 international units (IU) (or 25 micrograms) of vitamin D daily reduced an individual’s colon cancer risk by 50%, and breast and ovarian cancer risks by 30%. A scientific review undertaken by the National Cancer Institute found that vitamin D was beneficial in preventing colorectal cancer, which showed an inverse relationship with blood levels of 80 nmol/L or higher associated with a 72% risk reduction. However, the same study found no link between baseline vitamin D status and overall cancer mortality. Wikipedia
Citation after citation point to the healing powers of Vitamin D, up to and including references to the prevention, some even to treatment of certain types of cancer. A quick video on why below -
Your best bet is, of course to do your own research on Vitamin D. But for what it’s worth, current research seems promising.
How much is enough?
Not a ton of agreement there. The one statement that all seem to agree on is that the current RDA (600 iu) is not enough. Recommendations range from 1000IU to 200
You can get vitamin D the old fashioned way, from the sun. If that worries you, tehre are foods that will provide the benefits. Here are a few of them -
There is little worry about overdosing on this supplement; some recommend as much as 2000 IUs. Authorities of the scientific bent say the you would have to be attempting to take an overdose in order to do it. Even with that the possibility of damage is unlikely.
Itis worth the consideration. Who knows? It may save your life
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