I think we all know that Vitamin D is important because it helps keep our bones strong. The reason for this is that Vitamin D helps to promote calcium absorption which we need for strong bones and teeth.
How Do We Get Vitamin D?– One of the main sources is the sun. It seems that recommended amounts of sun vary from 5 to 30 minutes a day, twice a week. There are factors that affect how much sun you get like cloud cover, skin pigment and sun screen. And of course, you have to be careful not to get too much sun since it has been associated with skin cancer.
There are certain foods that also offer Vitamin D. These include fish such as salmon and tuna, cheese, egg yolks and of course milk. I checked the nutrition facts on a bag of milk I had in my fridge ( I use skim milk….not sure if all milk is the same ) and it says that 1 cup or 250 ml. of milk supplies you with 45% of your daily required intake. So.. two cups of milk and you are close to your required amount!
Vitamin D Deficiency– If you don’t take in enough Vitamin D, of course your calcium levels are lower which affects bone growth. Over a long period of time this can lead to osteoporosis which means low bone mass and deterioration of bone density , leading to bone fractures.
In infants, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to Rickets which is characterized by soft bones and skeletal deformities.
Too Much Vitamin D– If you take in too much Vitamin D it can raise your calcium levels too high which can lead to heart damage, kidney damage and kidney stones. There are other problems being researched that I don’t want to get into because these studies “suggest” connections to certain health problems, implying to me that it is not for sure proven yet.
How Much Vitamin D Do We Need?– There seems to be a wide variance in the answer to this question, but from what I can tell, 1000 I.U’s seems to be the norm. If you aren’t getting enough through sunlight and food, then a supplement is recommended. And of course there are different requirements for infants and young children (they need less) and older people (who need more because as we age our skin doesn’t seem to use the Vitamin D from the sun to it’s full extent and older people don’t seem to get out in the sun as much)
If you are not sure what your Vitamin D requirements are, then please see your doctor and find out. What you can do is watch your diet, get outside and exercise and be conscious of what you put in your body. Sounds like common sense to me!
As an Independent Herbalife Distributor, I depend a lot on Dr.Luigi Gratton, who is the Vice president of Medical Affairs for Herbalife, for his opinion, knowledge and advice. I have included a short video of his on the subject of Vitamin D. Hope you enjoy.
Take care everyone. I wish you all health and happiness.
Sue
