There is so much misinformation and confusion
out there regarding Vitamin D. What we do know is that the number one source is
the sun. We also know that a lack of Vitamin D affects our mood. Especially
those living further away from the equator feel this in the fall and winter
more than ever. I am a Northwest native and I can vouch for the drop in energy
and even enthusiasm for being active or sociable when the lack of sunshine is
apparent. It’s gloomy, cold, and possibly just plain icky out. I feel more
lazy, unmotivated, and my personality is dampened a little.
But let’s discuss some very important and,
might I add, *vital*, facts on a more scientific level so that we can better
understand how crucial Vitamin D is for us and that the sun is the foundation
for our survival- literally. This may be lengthy, but I desire to point out
every angle so that you can take away a strong grasp of this vitamin.
Vitamin D deficiency is the main cause for many
chronic and autoimmune diseases such as Rickets, Ostoporosis, Osteomalacia,
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Infectious Diseases, Heart Disease,
and Common Cancers. It can also contribute to the risk of C-Sections and
Obesity.
Vitamin D is a catalyst for Calcium. Calcium is
needed for bone growth and density. You may have heard that Rickets is a huge
result of Vitamin D deficiency, which causes bone malformation and stunted bone
growth in children. Many tests over the years have taken place to reverse these
effects, one of which was the Mercury Arc Lamp radiation treatment performed on
children during the Industrial Revolution which showed obvious improvement.
In
1931, in fact, the government gave the US a recommended dose of sunlight to
prevent Rickets. Soon after, we started to see Vitamin D irradiate in such
foods as milk. Then, of course, we have been told to protect ourselves from the
sunlight and to avoid direct sun exposure due to the harmful UV rays which can
lead to skin cancer and aging.
Let’s step back for a moment- to the dinosaur
or neanderthal age. Scientists have concluded that the bottom line of their
extinction is the lack of Vitamin D. Other factors did contribute, but the only
organism that survived the asteroid that seemingly destroyed life on the planet
was a nocturnal rodent- the mole, which still exists today.
Now, back to today. If we think in general of
the pigmentation of our skin depending on where we live- the darker the pigment
the closer you are to the equator, and the lighter the pigment the farther away
you are. Isn’t that amazing? We were designed with the proper skin according to
where we live! If your skin is naturally dark, you are more protected by the
sun, whereas the more pale you are, the more sensitive you are to it. I, being
a native to the northwest, naturally have a paler pigment because the sun isn’t
as available to me in this region. I don’t need that extra protection. Someone
who is native to South Africa, however, has very dark pigment as they are never
faced with cloudy days like I am.
So, You get 95-99% of Vitamin D from the sun,
which is good and needed. But, too much sun exposure can cause cancer and aging
of the skin. If you use an SPF sunscreen, you are blocking both. So, what do
you do? Do you take a VItamin D supplement? Well, most over-the-counter Vitamin
D supplements you find at the grocery store are low-quality and synthesized,
meaning, they have no whole food quality to them. Purchasing a higher quality
supplement at a health food store or holistic pharmacy is your best bet- they
are directly derived from foods and plants. But, I recommend a little sun and
the proper amount of certain foods in your diet instead.
Having a regulated and limited amount of sun is
GOOD. Do not feel that you need to slap on that SPF 50 every time you step
outside. Don’t fear for your child, either. Your child, in fact, needs it the
most! There is less than 2% of Vitamin D in a mother’s breast milk, so a child
needs to obtain their vitamin D through the mother in natural forms such as in
food or the sun while in the womb as well as while breastfeeding and
thereafter.
A study was done using tanning beds and the
results after 24 hours of using the bed for 15 minutes 2 times a week showed an
astounding level of 10-20,000 IU of Vitamin D in the patients. The recommended
daily intake of Vitamin D is 1,000 IU a day! You do the math!
And am I saying that going to a tanning salon
is okay? Well, yes and no. I’ve been doing it for the past 19 years on and off
and only for 1-2 times per week, especially in the fall and winter seasons. In
recent years, in fact, tanning salons have been given permission by the FTC to
solicit tanning beds as a sufficient source of Vitamin D. I am not saying that
indoor tanning is completely safe, but I will not scoff at anyone who does it
in moderation. What I’ve elaborated on here is what is not being told to the
general public. Abide by the limit given above, and you should be okay, but you
can’t hold me to it. There is always a risk. Below is an *amazing* article on
the debate of sun exposure and tanning.
And, as a side note, there are ways you can
keep your immune system boosted, free radicals at a low, and help avoid getting
melanoma or other cancers by eating certain foods (do some research or ask me).
Speaking of foods, you can still incorporate
Vitamin D into your diet. Foods that are rich in D are fish, sardines, shrimp,
oysters, and cod liver oil (Yes to Omega 3 fatty acids!), fortified cereals,
fortified dairy, salami, ham, sausage and mushrooms. Good cholesterol (HDL)
sources also help synthesize Vitamin D.
*Note that you can obtain toxicity of Vitamin D
through foods but you cannot gain toxicity through sun exposure. There is, however, the risk of skin cancer.
Thank you for reading- I hope you have found
this information valuable! Stay tuned for more!
Links and references:
The controversy on tanning salons-
http://www.fairwarning.org/2012/08/burned-by-health-warnings-defiant-tanning-industry-assails-doctors-sun-scare-conspiracy/
Dr. Michael Holick-
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/faculty/holick/
transferred- original post date 7/26/2014
